Is homosexuality legal in the United Arab Emirates?
Death penalty possible
Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence that can carry the death penalty.
The United Arab Emirates is one of 10 countries classified “Death penalty possible” for same-sex sexual activity — 4% of the 226 with data. (Also searched as homosexuality.)
Source
- Last checked
- 15 September 2026
- How it was classified
- Read directly from the source’s own table, without interpretation.
Nearby countries
- Qatar
- Death penalty possible Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence that can carry the death penalty.
- Bahrain
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Oman
- Illegal Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence.
- Kuwait
- Illegal Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence.
- Iran
- Death penalty possible Same-sex sexual activity is a criminal offence that can carry the death penalty.
- Saudi Arabia
- Death penalty possible Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and can carry the death penalty under Sharia law.
Other laws in United Arab Emirates
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized
- Sex Work
- Illegal
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted
- Incest Laws
- Criminal offense
- Marriage Age
- 18+
Every law in the United Arab Emirates → · Where is homosexuality illegal? →
A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.