The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has recorded significant growth in applying alternative penalties to imprisonment for minor offences, the department said in a statement issued this week. The growth reflects a rehabilitative approach aimed at rehabilitating offenders, supporting their positive reintegration into society and strengthening their sense of social responsibility. Between 2023 and 2025, electronic monitoring orders recorded an average increase of 170 per cent, while community service measures posted an average growth rate of 83.5 per cent. These figures were presented during the regular meeting of the department’s Committee on Correctional and Rehabilitation Policies, which reviewed performance indicators showing continued expansion in the use of the measures.
Counsellor Yousef Saeed Al Abri chaired the committee meeting in his capacity as undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department. Al Abri said the achievements reflect the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Presidential Court and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, to develop an integrated judicial and correctional system in line with international best practice while reinforcing an approach that balances penalties with rehabilitation. The undersecretary stressed the importance of aligning local practices with global standards for correctional policies. The session also included discussion of how these alternatives contribute to more efficient judicial operations overall.
The committee examined the community service programme under which offenders convicted of non-serious offences perform community service instead of serving custodial sentences. This serves as a behavioural rehabilitation tool and has demonstrated effectiveness in broadening the use of non-custodial options. The electronic monitoring system was likewise reviewed with attention to its use of technology to monitor offenders’ locations. It operates through a strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Police that has facilitated wider adoption of the technology in the justice system.
The committee said the results demonstrate the positive impact of alternative penalties to imprisonment in striking a balance between law enforcement and offender rehabilitation by enabling offenders to contribute to the community while reinforcing responsibility, discipline and successful reintegration. A 2023 comparative legal analysis of community service as an alternative penalty to short-term imprisonment in the UAE and Malaysia published on ResearchGate noted the potential for such measures to reduce prison populations while promoting offender rehabilitation. The paper highlighted similarities in legal approaches between the two countries and suggested opportunities for further development based on successful implementations. These insights provide additional context for the growth trends reported by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department in recent years.
The department’s focus on alternative sanctions forms part of ongoing judicial modernisation efforts in the UAE that have gained momentum since the early 2020s. Data from the period under review indicates steady progress in shifting away from traditional imprisonment for eligible cases. Authorities have invested in the necessary infrastructure and training to support the expanded programmes. Continued monitoring will help assess long-term impacts on both offenders and the community according to the committee’s framework.
