Asan Tata— November 10, 2026A new places of worship fines schedule applies to non-Muslim places of worship in the UAE. A Cabinet Resolution that took effect on 14 October 2026 lists 24 types of violations, with fines starting at a warning and reaching Dh750,000. For a fourth offence in most categories, the authorities can suspend all activities for up to three months.
The new schedule does not add new restrictions. It updates how the existing rules are enforced. The rules come from Federal Law No. 9 of 2023, which regulates houses of worship for non-Muslims in the UAE, and its Executive Regulation. Until now, enforcement relied mainly on court action. Now the competent authority can warn, fine or suspend a venue directly, without going to court.
This article explains the full penalty schedule, the fines for each violation, the deadlines for fixing a breach, and how to appeal a penalty.
Quick Answer
Non-Muslim places of worship in the UAE can be fined up to Dh750,000 under a Cabinet Resolution that took effect on 14 October 2026. The schedule lists 24 violations, with the highest fines for links with foreign diplomatic institutions and unauthorised fundraising from abroad. Most first offences bring a warning or a lower fine, and penalties rise with each repeat. A fourth offence in most categories can lead to suspension of up to three months. Penalties can be appealed within 15 days of notification.
What Changed on 14 October 2026
The Cabinet Resolution sets out administrative penalties for violations of Federal Law No. 9 of 2023 and its Executive Regulation. It took effect in mid-October 2026, and the details were reported in the UAE press on 9 and 10 November 2026.
The key change is the method of enforcement. Before this resolution, a breach was mainly dealt with through the courts. Now the competent authority can act on its own, issuing a warning, a fine or a suspension without a court order.
The resolution lists 24 violation categories, each with its own ladder of penalties. Most start with a warning, then the fine rises for the second and third offences. A fourth offence usually brings a suspension of all activities for up to three months, extendable for further periods.
The Highest Fines: Foreign Ties and Overseas Money
The strictest penalties concern links abroad and unauthorised fundraising. These are the only categories where a fine can reach Dh750,000, about $204,220.
Establishing any formal or informal relationship, in any capacity, with the diplomatic or official institutions of another country carries a fine of Dh250,000 for a first offence, Dh500,000 for a second and Dh750,000 for a third. A fourth offence can lead to suspension.
The same ladder applies to holding meetings or conferences abroad, and to joining places of worship, organisations, bodies, associations or other entities based outside the UAE.
Money from abroad is tightly controlled. A place of worship that collects or receives donations, gifts, subsidies, bequests or grants from outside the UAE faces a fine of Dh100,000 for a first offence, rising to Dh250,000 for a second and Dh500,000 for a third. Collecting or advertising donations through any medium, including social media, falls under the same rule.
Sending aid, support or funds outside the UAE without approval carries fines of Dh50,000, then Dh100,000 and Dh250,000.
| Violation | First offence | Second offence | Third offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Relationship with a foreign diplomatic or official institution | Dh250,000 | Dh500,000 | Dh750,000 |
| Meetings or conferences abroad, or joining a foreign entity | Dh250,000 | Dh500,000 | Dh750,000 |
| Donations, gifts or grants from outside the UAE | Dh100,000 | Dh250,000 | Dh500,000 |
| Sending aid or funds abroad without approval | Dh50,000 | Dh100,000 | Dh250,000 |
Worship Outside the Licensed Premises
Where worship takes place matters under the law. Any act of worship, religious observance or ritual performed outside the licensed premises carries a fine of Dh100,000 for a first offence, rising to Dh200,000 for a second and Dh400,000 for a third.
Using a house of worship for a purpose other than the one it was licensed for, or outside its statutes, is fined on the same scale, with 30 days to resolve the matter.
Conferences, seminars, gatherings or events held without approval, or beyond the approved scope, are treated more lightly: a warning first, then fines of Dh15,000 and Dh30,000.
Rituals That Harm Worshippers
The resolution takes a hard line on rituals or practices that harm the people performing them or others, or that put anyone’s health, safety or security at risk, including worshippers, visitors and employees.
A first offence brings a fine of Dh100,000. A second leads straight to suspension of up to three months, extendable for further periods. This is faster than the usual pattern, where suspension normally follows a fourth offence.
Licensing and Governance Rules
Several violations concern the licence and how a place of worship is run. Most start with a warning and give the venue a set number of days to fix the problem.
Operating without renewing a licence brings a warning for a first offence, then fines of Dh25,000 and Dh50,000. A place of worship is given 60 days to renew.
If the board does not appoint a supervisor, or changes the supervisor without approval, the venue gets a warning first, then fines of Dh5,000 and Dh10,000. Venues have 30 days to make an appointment.
Failing to hold an annual meeting on time brings a warning, then fines of Dh15,000 and Dh30,000, with 30 days to rectify the breach. Amending the statutes without approval brings a warning, then fines of Dh10,000 and Dh25,000, again with 30 days to fix it.
Changing the board’s chairman or members without approval is fined from the first offence: Dh25,000, then Dh50,000 and Dh100,000, with 30 days to rectify the situation.
| Violation | First offence | Second offence | Third offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating without renewing the licence | Warning | Dh25,000 | Dh50,000 |
| No supervisor appointed by the board | Warning | Dh5,000 | Dh10,000 |
| Annual meeting not held on time | Warning | Dh15,000 | Dh30,000 |
| Statutes amended without approval | Warning | Dh10,000 | Dh25,000 |
| Board chairman or members changed without approval | Dh25,000 | Dh50,000 | Dh100,000 |
| Supervisor changed without approval | Warning | Dh5,000 | Dh10,000 |
Banking and Financial Rules
Every place of worship must run its finances through an account with a national bank operating in the UAE. Operating without one brings a warning first, then fines of Dh10,000 and Dh20,000, and houses of worship are given 10 days to open an account.
Cash handling is also regulated. Spending cash before depositing it in an approved bank account brings a warning, then fines of Dh50,000 and Dh100,000. If the breach persists, the house of worship can lose its licence for three months, and it has seven days to rectify the situation.
Failing to give the authorities bank details within 10 days of opening an account, or to inform them of a change in banks, brings a warning, then fines of Dh5,000 and Dh10,000.
How the money is spent is controlled too. Failing to spend it for the purposes the house of worship was set up for brings a fine of Dh25,000, then Dh50,000 and Dh150,000, with no warning stage. Annual budgets and financial statements must be submitted within three months of the end of the financial year; late submission brings a warning, then fines of Dh10,000 and Dh25,000, with 15 days to submit them.
Records, Inspections and Cooperation
Failure to maintain records, books, programmes and electronic systems covering all activities is met with a warning, then fines of Dh50,000 and Dh100,000, with 30 days to come into compliance. Destroying records without approval carries fines of Dh25,000, then Dh50,000 and Dh100,000, and failing to provide data requested by the authorities brings the same fines. Failure to cooperate with the authority’s staff is fined more heavily: Dh50,000, then Dh100,000 and Dh250,000.
What Happens on a Fourth Offence
For most categories, a fourth offence results in a suspension of all activities for up to three months, extendable for further periods. A place of worship that repeats the same breach four times can therefore be closed for months.
The main exception is harmful rituals, where suspension can follow a second offence. Cash spent before it is deposited can also lead to a three-month loss of licence if the breach persists after fines.
How to Appeal a Penalty
A place of worship that disagrees with a penalty can appeal to the competent authority within 15 days of notification. The authority has 30 working days to rule; if no answer is given within that time, the challenge counts as rejected.
Fines must be paid within 30 days to the treasury of the emirate where the place of worship is located. The 15-day appeal window is short, so a venue that receives a penalty notice should act at once.
Places of Worship Fines: What Venues Should Do Now
The resolution has been in force since 14 October 2026, so the rules already apply. Any place of worship that has not yet checked its compliance should do so now, starting with the highest fines.
First, check that the licence is current and the board, supervisor and statutes match what the authorities have on file; any change needs approval first. Second, review all money in and out: donations from abroad need care, no funds should go abroad without prior approval, and cash should be deposited in the national bank account before it is spent. Third, keep all worship, rituals and events inside the licensed premises and within the approved scope. Fourth, keep records up to date and submit budgets and statements on time. Finally, review any ritual that could risk health or safety.
Why This Matters for Worshippers
For most worshippers, daily life at their place of worship will not change. The resolution does not add new restrictions on worship itself; it sets out how the existing law is enforced and gives the authorities a faster way to act when the rules are broken. The rules protect worshippers in two ways: they guard safety inside the venue and they protect community finances, through the controls on donations, bank accounts and spending.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum fine for a place of worship in the UAE?
The maximum fine is Dh750,000, on a third offence for links with foreign diplomatic or official institutions, and for meetings or conferences abroad or joining a foreign entity. A fourth offence in most categories can lead to suspension of up to three months.
Does the new resolution add new restrictions on worship?
No. It does not add new restrictions. It updates how the existing rules under Federal Law No. 9 of 2023 are enforced, by letting the authorities issue warnings, fines and suspensions without going to court.
When did the new penalty schedule take effect?
The Cabinet Resolution took effect on 14 October 2026, and the details were reported in the UAE press on 9 and 10 November 2026.
Can a place of worship receive donations from abroad?
Receiving donations, gifts, subsidies, bequests or grants from outside the UAE is a listed violation, fined Dh100,000, then Dh250,000 and Dh500,000. Sending funds abroad without prior approval is also fined, starting at Dh50,000.
How long does a place of worship have to appeal a fine?
Penalties can be challenged within 15 days of notification. The authority has 30 working days to rule, and no answer within that time counts as a rejection. Fines must be paid within 30 days.
Which law regulates non-Muslim places of worship in the UAE?
Federal Law No. 9 of 2023 regulates houses of worship for non-Muslims in the UAE, along with its Executive Regulation. The new Cabinet Resolution sets out the administrative penalties for violations of that law.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. The penalty figures come from press reports of the Cabinet Resolution published on 9 and 10 November 2026. Check the full text with the competent authority or a legal adviser before any decision is made.
Sources: The National, 10 November 2026; Gulf News, 9 November 2026; The Global Filipino Magazine, 10 November 2026; Federal Law No. 9 of 2023.
Last Updated: 10 November 2026
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