The United Arab Emirates will now allow unmarried couples to live together under one roof, ease prohibitions on alcoholic drinks, and scrap laws that defend "honor" killings in a sweeping overhaul of its Islamic laws on Saturday.
The expansion of personal liberties mirrors the evolving profile of a nation that has sought to promote itself as a skyscraper-studded must-visit tourist and business haven for Westerners, despite the country's legal infrastructure hinged on a rigid translation of Islamic doctrine.
The major reform marks a significant shift to liberalization intended to ensure the Emirates' continued push to boost its economy and tourism, the UAE-based The National newspaper disclosed.
The legal revisions, which have been approved by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan are also said to include stiffer penalties for other misdeeds targeting women.
Those found guilty of sexual harassment will face tougher sentences, The National reported. While those convicted of more serious crimes like rape of a minor or "someone with limited mental capacity" will now be meted with the death penalty.
The legal reform also reflects the measures initiated by the Emirates' rulers to keep pace with a fast-changing society. In a nation where expatriates make up some 90 percent of the UAE population, the change will also allow foreigners to be spared from Islamic Shariah court proceedings on matters like marriage, divorce, and inheritance.
Though alcoholic drinks are available in night clubs and bars in many cities across the Emirates, adults were previously required to secure a government-issued permit to acquire or carry along alcohol as well as to keep such beverages in their homes.
In addition to the changes, penalties will no longer be implemented against those who are found drinking alcoholic beverages without a license, and suicide and attempted suicide will not be considered a crime.
The UAE said it has also decided to abolish laws that defend "honor crimes," a widely denounced custom in which a male relative may evade charges for assaulting a woman viewed as giving dishonor to her family.
The reforms said nothing of other behavior considered as an offense to UAE's local customs that have landed foreign visitors in prison in the past, like acts of homosexuality, public displays of affection, and even cross-dressing.
The announcement also follows a momentous U.S.-arranged agreement to improve ties between the UAE and Israel, which is seen to generate an influx of tourists and investment from Israel.
