Federal Law No. (11) of 2009 Concerning Martial Laws
Federal Law No. (11) of 2009
The UAE Martial Laws statute regulates when martial law may be declared, the content and territorial scope of the declaration, extraordinary executive measures, temporary martial courts, offences during martial law, review and termination of exceptional measures.
Overview
What this legislation covers
The UAE Martial Laws statute regulates when martial law may be declared, the content and territorial scope of the declaration, extraordinary executive measures, temporary martial courts, offences during martial law, review and termination of exceptional measures.
Who or what it applies to
- Federal and local authorities implementing a martial-law declaration.
- Persons and activities within the territorial/material scope specified by a martial-law declaration.
- Armed Forces and other authorities assigned functions by the declaration or law.
- Martial Courts and persons subject to their jurisdiction while martial law applies.
Key points
Important points at a glance
Official UAE Legislation continues to publish Federal Law No. (11) of 2009 as current legislation.
Defines Martial Law as extraordinary rules/measures applied under emergency conditions to address dangers threatening the State.
Article 2 permits declaration in specified necessity situations including war/armed aggression, serious turmoil, public disasters or epidemics, and military-security needs.
Martial law is declared through the constitutional/federal mechanism provided by the law.
The declaration determines the area, commencement and authority responsible for implementing extraordinary measures.
Permits specified temporary restrictions/measures required to meet the emergency, subject to the declaration and law.
Provides for an Executive Authority responsible for implementation during martial law.
Authorises temporary Martial Courts for offences falling within the statute during the period of application.
Distinguishes Martial Courts for misdemeanours and felonies.
Regulates appointment/composition and procedural operation of martial courts.
Addresses referral of cases and the relationship with ordinary judicial institutions.
Provides legal rules for measures concerning persons, movement, communications, property and activities where authorised.
Contains safeguards/limits tied to necessity and the formal martial-law declaration.
Article 23 preserves wartime powers of military commanders in areas of military operations.
Article 25 provides entry into force on the day following Official Gazette publication.
Practical explanation
Understanding the law
Purpose and practical effect
The UAE Martial Laws statute regulates when martial law may be declared, the content and territorial scope of the declaration, extraordinary executive measures, temporary martial courts, offences during martial law, review and termination of exceptional measures.
Who / what the law applies to
- Federal and local authorities implementing a martial-law declaration.
- Persons and activities within the territorial/material scope specified by a martial-law declaration.
- Armed Forces and other authorities assigned functions by the declaration or law.
- Martial Courts and persons subject to their jurisdiction while martial law applies.
Important definitions
- Martial Law: the extraordinary legal regime defined by Federal Law No. (11) of 2009.
- Executive Authority: the body specified by the declaration to conduct the relevant state matters during martial law.
- Martial Courts: temporary courts constituted for crimes within their jurisdiction during application of martial law.
- Declaration: the federal legal instrument that activates and defines the exceptional regime.
Principal rights, duties and legal consequences
- Exceptional powers arise only through the formal legal conditions/declaration contemplated by the statute.
- Authorities must act within the scope of the declaration and law.
- Judicial consequences must follow the martial-court/ordinary procedural rules applicable to the case.
- Measures cease or transition in accordance with the rules governing termination of martial law.
Practical procedure / compliance checklist
- Confirm that a valid martial-law declaration exists and identify its territorial/temporal scope.
- Identify the Executive Authority and exact powers granted by the declaration/law.
- Determine whether the matter belongs before a Martial Court or ordinary jurisdiction.
- Apply the special martial-law procedure first and ordinary law where incorporated or not displaced.
- Track termination orders and transitional treatment of existing measures/cases.
Important dates and deadlines
- Issued: 6 December 2009.
- Article 25: effective on the day following Official Gazette publication; exact Gazette date is left blank rather than inferred.
- Any active martial-law declaration would specify commencement/scope and must be read directly for operative timing.
- Case deadlines depend on the special court/procedure applicable under the declaration and law.
Enforcement and legal exposure
Enforcement depends on a lawful declaration of martial law and the powers assigned to the Executive Authority, Armed Forces, security bodies and Martial Courts. The statute should not be treated as a standing grant to exercise extraordinary measures outside its activation conditions.
Practical scenarios
- A public emergency does not automatically mean martial law; the formal statutory declaration mechanism must be satisfied.
- An authority considering a restriction must identify the exact power in the law/declaration rather than rely on a generic emergency rationale.
- A criminal matter arising during martial law requires a jurisdiction check between martial and ordinary courts.
- When martial law ends, authorities must follow the statute/declaration concerning pending measures and cases.
Amendments and current-law interaction
No later replacement was identified in the official source set reviewed. Any actual declaration of martial law would have to be analysed together with the specific declaration instrument, the Constitution and current criminal/procedural legislation.
Research and publication caution
UAE federal legislation frequently operates together with Executive Regulations, Cabinet resolutions, ministerial decisions, local competent-authority rules and later amendments. This explanation is intended as detailed practical guidance for research and website publication, not as a substitute for the official Arabic text or case-specific legal advice.
Research status
Current-law verification for this package was performed on 2026-09-07.
Practical notes
- Use the official current Arabic text for interpretation and application; the English package is a structured legal-information rendering.
- Verify the current consolidated version and related regulations immediately before a filing, transaction, enforcement decision or court submission.
- Exact penalties, thresholds, exceptions and procedural deadlines must be checked against the exact current article and implementing instrument.
- The supplied cover artwork is editorial artwork and is not a source of legal authority or evidence of government endorsement.
Legislation text
Text and provisions
Official-text notice. This file is a comprehensive structured English legal-information rendering based on the UAE sources listed in this package. It is not represented as the legally controlling verbatim English text. For interpretation and application, consult the original Arabic legislation, the Official Gazette and the latest consolidated official version. Exact offence elements, penalties, thresholds, exceptions and procedural periods must be checked against the current article and implementing instrument.
Federal Law No. (11) of 2009 Concerning Martial Laws
Verified legislative metadata
| Instrument | Federal Law No. (11) of 2009 |
|---|---|
| Issued | 2009-12-06 |
| Effective | Commencement formula verified; exact Gazette-derived date not entered |
| Status | Active / in force |
| Official source | UAE legislation source |
Legislative purpose and scope
The UAE Martial Laws statute regulates when martial law may be declared, the content and territorial scope of the declaration, extraordinary executive measures, temporary martial courts, offences during martial law, review and termination of exceptional measures.
Structured legislative map
Definitions
Defines State, President, Armed Forces, Martial Law, Executive Authority and Martial Courts.
Grounds for declaration
Article 2 lists necessity situations including armed conflict, serious turmoil, public disaster/epidemic and protection of Armed Forces/operations.
Declaration procedure
Regulates the formal instrument declaring martial law and the matters it must identify.
Territorial and temporal scope
Allows martial law to apply to the whole State or a specified area and for the period required by the declaration/legal process.
Executive Authority
Identifies the authority charged with implementing extraordinary powers and measures during martial law.
Exceptional measures
Authorises specified measures affecting movement, assemblies, communications, property, facilities, activities and security where legally included/required.
Orders and compliance
Requires compliance with lawful orders/measures issued under the martial-law framework.
Martial Courts
Creates temporary felony and misdemeanour martial courts and regulates their formation/jurisdiction.
Criminal procedure
Provides special procedural rules and uses ordinary criminal procedure where the law does not provide otherwise, subject to the martial-law framework.
Referral and judgments
Regulates referral of offences/cases and the handling/review/confirmation of martial-court decisions as provided by the statute.
Termination of martial law
Provides the legal mechanism for ending the exceptional regime and addressing pending effects/cases.
Military operations exception
Article 23 states that implementation does not prejudice wartime rights/powers assigned to military commanders in areas of operations.
Implementation
Article 24 directs competent authorities to implement the law within their respective competences.
Commencement
Article 25 provides effect from the day following Official Gazette publication.
Key statutory points
- Official UAE Legislation continues to publish Federal Law No. (11) of 2009 as current legislation.
- Defines Martial Law as extraordinary rules/measures applied under emergency conditions to address dangers threatening the State.
- Article 2 permits declaration in specified necessity situations including war/armed aggression, serious turmoil, public disasters or epidemics, and military-security needs.
- Martial law is declared through the constitutional/federal mechanism provided by the law.
- The declaration determines the area, commencement and authority responsible for implementing extraordinary measures.
- Permits specified temporary restrictions/measures required to meet the emergency, subject to the declaration and law.
- Provides for an Executive Authority responsible for implementation during martial law.
- Authorises temporary Martial Courts for offences falling within the statute during the period of application.
- Distinguishes Martial Courts for misdemeanours and felonies.
- Regulates appointment/composition and procedural operation of martial courts.
- Addresses referral of cases and the relationship with ordinary judicial institutions.
- Provides legal rules for measures concerning persons, movement, communications, property and activities where authorised.
- Contains safeguards/limits tied to necessity and the formal martial-law declaration.
- Article 23 preserves wartime powers of military commanders in areas of military operations.
- Article 25 provides entry into force on the day following Official Gazette publication.
Amendments, implementing instruments and interaction with other legislation
No later replacement was identified in the official source set reviewed. Any actual declaration of martial law would have to be analysed together with the specific declaration instrument, the Constitution and current criminal/procedural legislation.
Case-specific reading rule
This legislative map is designed for website publication and legal research. It gives a complete substantive overview of the statute's operative areas without pretending that a paraphrase can replace the controlling Arabic wording. Where the outcome depends on a defined term, penalty, exception, jurisdictional condition, transitional rule or procedural deadline, the current official article must be opened and applied directly.
Verification
Official source & references
Official legislation sourcehttps://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1967Open ↗This page is a research and educational resource. Legislation can be amended, repealed, supplemented by regulations or interpreted by courts and authorities. Obtain advice before relying on it for a live matter.