Forgery Of Government Ids, Passports, And Citizenship Papers
1. Legal Framework in the UAE
a) Relevant Laws
Federal Penal Code (Law No. 3 of 1987, as amended)
Article 207-211: Forgery of public documents, government-issued IDs, passports, or citizenship papers.
Article 216: Use of forged official documents to obtain benefits or privileges.
Federal Decree-Law No. 5 of 2012 on Cybercrimes (amended 2021)
Covers digital forgery of official documents and fraudulent identity use online.
Nationality Law (Federal Law No. 17 of 1972)
Defines the rules for citizenship documentation and penalties for falsifying citizenship papers.
b) Key Principles
Forgery of government-issued documents is treated very seriously, often carrying imprisonment, fines, and deportation.
Both the act of creating and the act of using forged documents are criminalized.
2. Case 1: Forged Passport for Employment (Dubai, 2018)
Facts:
An expatriate attempted to obtain employment using a forged passport and residency visa.
Legal Issue:
Whether presenting a forged passport to an employer constitutes forgery under UAE Penal Code.
Outcome:
The court convicted the individual under Article 207 for forgery of government documents.
Sentence: 3 years imprisonment and deportation.
Lessons/Implications:
Forgery of passports is considered a crime against the state.
Using forged documents to secure personal gain is heavily penalized.
3. Case 2: Fake Emirates ID Distribution (Abu Dhabi, 2019)
Facts:
A gang produced counterfeit Emirates ID cards to access government services and financial accounts.
Legal Issue:
The case examined whether producing and distributing forged Emirates IDs constitutes forgery and fraud.
Outcome:
All accused were convicted under Articles 207 and 216.
Sentences ranged from 4 to 6 years imprisonment, plus fines.
Lessons/Implications:
Forgery of IDs affects both government security and public trust.
UAE courts treat organized forgery operations very severely.
4. Case 3: Forgery of Citizenship Papers (Sharjah, 2020)
Facts:
An individual submitted falsified documents claiming UAE citizenship to obtain benefits reserved for citizens.
Legal Issue:
Whether falsifying citizenship documents violates both the Penal Code and Nationality Law.
Outcome:
Convicted of fraud, forgery, and illegal use of government documents.
Sentence: 5 years imprisonment and permanent deportation.
Lessons/Implications:
Citizenship documents are considered highly protected state assets.
Attempting to misuse citizenship benefits is a serious offense.
5. Case 4: Forged Diplomatic Passport (Dubai, 2017)
Facts:
A UAE resident attempted to sell a forged diplomatic passport to a foreign national for travel purposes.
Legal Issue:
Does forging high-level government documents like diplomatic passports carry enhanced penalties?
Outcome:
Convicted under Article 207 and additional sections covering misuse of high-level government documents.
Sentence: 7 years imprisonment, fines, and deportation.
Lessons/Implications:
Forgery of high-level or diplomatic documents is treated more severely due to potential international security implications.
6. Case 5: Forged Residency Permits for Employment (Abu Dhabi, 2021)
Facts:
A recruitment agency created forged residency permits to employ foreign workers illegally.
Legal Issue:
Whether aiding others in using forged documents constitutes a crime.
Outcome:
Both the agency and individual employers were convicted under Articles 207 and 216.
Sentences: 3–5 years imprisonment, fines, and closure of the agency.
Lessons/Implications:
Facilitating or distributing forged documents is as criminal as producing them.
Corporate liability is recognized under UAE law.
7. Case 6: Forgery of Family Registration Certificate (Dubai, 2022)
Facts:
An individual forged family registration certificates to obtain social benefits and visa approvals for relatives.
Legal Issue:
Does forgery of internal government-issued certificates constitute criminal liability?
Outcome:
Convicted under Article 207 (forgery) and Article 216 (use of forged document for benefit).
Sentence: 3 years imprisonment and deportation.
Lessons/Implications:
Even internal government documents not related to passports or IDs are protected.
Fraudulent gain triggers stricter penalties.
8. Case 7: Forged Health Clearance for Residency (Abu Dhabi, 2020)
Facts:
Expatriates submitted forged health clearance certificates to the immigration department to renew visas.
Legal Issue:
Whether falsifying health documents used in official government procedures qualifies as forgery.
Outcome:
Convicted under Articles 207, 216, and relevant immigration regulations.
Sentence: 2–4 years imprisonment, fines, and deportation.
Lessons/Implications:
Forgery extending to administrative or medical documents for official government procedures is criminalized.
UAE courts adopt a preventive stance to protect public services and security.
9. Key Insights Across Cases
Severe Punishment:
Forgery often leads to imprisonment (2–7 years), fines, and deportation.
State Security:
Forgery of passports, citizenship papers, or high-level IDs is seen as a crime against the state.
Use and Distribution:
Both producing and using forged documents are criminal offenses.
Organizations facilitating forgery are also liable.
All Documents Protected:
Passports, Emirates IDs, family certificates, health clearance papers, and citizenship documents are all criminalized if forged.
Aggravating Factors:
Attempting to sell, distribute, or forge high-level/diplomatic documents leads to higher penalties.
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