UAE top court overturns deportation order in drug case involving expatriate woman

The Federal Supreme Court has overturned a deportation order issued against a foreign woman convicted of drug-related offences, ruling that her case must be reconsidered under a more lenient law.

The woman had been convicted of consuming and possessing psychotropic substances for personal use, as well as depositing money into another person’s bank account to facilitate drug-related activity. A lower court fined her Dh20,000 and ordered confiscation of seized items.

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While the Court of Appeal upheld the fine, it added a deportation order following the completion of her sentence, Emarat Al Youm Arabic daily reported.  The defendant challenged the ruling, arguing that deportation would cause serious harm to her family, as she is married and resides in the UAE.

In its judgment, the Federal Supreme Court said a new law introduced in 2025 must be applied, as it is more favourable to the defendant. The amended legislation allows exceptions to deportation in cases where it would destabilise a family or deprive dependants of care.

The court quashed the deportation order and referred the case back for reconsideration to determine whether those conditions apply.