Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have warned that submitting forged educational certificates to obtain employment may constitute a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment and fines under federal law.
The warning is based on Federal Law of 2021, which sets out penalties for forgery under the UAE Penal Code. Article 251 of the law defines forgery as any act that alters the authenticity of a document with the intent to use it as genuine, resulting in harm, Khaleej Times reported.
According to report, forgery includes altering or falsifying text, numbers, or images on a document; placing forged or unauthorized signatures, seals, or fingerprints; or misusing blank signed documents. Creating a fake document and attributing it to someone else also falls under this provision.
Under Article 252 of the same law defines the forgery of official documents may lead to imprisonment of up to 10 years, while forging non-official documents carries a lesser penalty while Article 253 adds that using a forged official document knowingly may lead to up to five years in prison.
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Further, Article 258 states that individuals who knowingly use forged documents can receive the same punishment as those who forged them.
Officials also noted that under Article 44(1) of Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 governing labour relations, an employee found to have submitted forged documents can be dismissed without notice. The law allows immediate termination if the worker is found to have impersonated another individual or submitted fake certificates.
Employers are encouraged to take disciplinary action, report such offences to law enforcement, and file complaints with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) when necessary.
Legal professionals in the UAE advise employers and HR departments to consult legal counsel to ensure all actions taken are in accordance with the country’s laws.
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