Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Nov 8: A wave of leniency in restrictions concerning Islamic personal laws, allowing unmarried couples to cohabitate, relaxing alcohol restrictions and criminalising 'honour killings' was announced by the United Arab Emirates, a report by Associated Press stated.

This move is one of the steps being taken by UAE to transform itself as the world's leading tourist destination especially for Westerners and as a business hub for established companies as well as startups. The announcement by UAE is also seen as a way to keep up with the changing dynamics of its society.

Significantly, the announcement comes in the backdrop of the historic US-brokered deal to normalise relations between the UAE and Israel, which is expected to bring an influx of Israeli tourists and investment. Changes will likely be witnessed in laws pertaining to penalties for alcohol consumption, sales and possession for those 21 and over.

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The legal reforms were announced on state-run WAM news agency and detailed in the state-linked newspaper The National.

Previously, individuals had to produce a liquor license to purchase, transport or have alcohol in their homes. Now, the new rules will allow Muslims who have been barred from obtaining licenses to drink alcoholic beverages freely, stated the AP.

Another amendment will allow for 'cohabitation of unmarried couples', which has been a crime in the UAE for a long time. Authorities, especially in the financial hub of Dubai, generally avoided it when it came to foreigners, but the threat of punishment still loomed.

Further, UAE is also planning to discard laws relating to 'honour crimes', a contentious tribal custom in which a male relative may evade prosecution for assaulting a woman seen as 'dishonouring' her family. "The punishment for a crime committed to eradicating a woman’s 'shame,' for promiscuity or disobeying religious and cultural strictures, will now be the same for any other kind of assault," the AP reported.

With the new amendments announced by the UAE, which witnesses an influx of expats, foreigners will be able to avoid Islamic Shariah courts on issues like marriage, divorce and inheritance.

The reforms are coming at a time when the UAE is preparing to host the high-stakes World Expo. The event is expected to being in increased commercial activity and some 25 million visitors to the country. The event had been postponed earlier because of the coronavirus pandemic.