The correctional facilities in the UAE observe human rights and serve as rehabilitation facilities. The UAE implements the Standard Minimum Rules for the treatment of prisoners (SMR) in punitive and correctional institutions nationwide. Inmates receive their full rights in rehabilitation, medical care, nutrition, and in communicating with their families and their lawyers. Rehabilitation forms a key element of the correctional strategy in the UAE. The government offers work readiness programme for UAE national inmates. The programme offers training for prisoners and employment opportunities when they complete their sentences.

Community Development Authority offers a prisoners' care service which addresses the social and psychological challenges that inmates and their families often face. The service helps them adopt a positive way of thinking, enable them to better cope with life during incarceration and after their release. This service is available to male and female inmates of various nationalities, religions and case histories.

Ministry of Community Development provides monthly assistance to the families of prisoners. Faraj Fund provides inmates and their families assistance through debt relief and family support. Since its launch in 2009, Faraj Fund has helped more  than 12,000 inmates in penal and correctional institutions from over 50 nationalities. Faraj Fund does not discriminate and assists inmates regardless of their nationality, race, gender, faith or economic status.

The Zakat Fund in the UAE also contributes for prisoners’ relief through Tawasul project for the prisoners’ families.

Read more about

• The rights of inmates - National Human Rights Institution 
• Bill of rights for prisoners (PDF, 1.91 MB) - Public Prosecution,Dubai 
• eServices for inmates - Ministry of Interior

• Federal Law No. 43 of 1992 for Organizing the Punitive Institutions