Revocation of Emirati citizenship due to committing cybercrimes

ABSTRACT Information technology has become a tangible and influential reality in various areas of our scientific and practical lives. Its multiple uses carry out beneficial acts while harmful behaviours can also occur. Unfortunately, such harmful behaviours can be classified as crimes that lead to an ‘original’ penalty of a fine in excess of one thousand Dirhams, and /or temporary/life imprisonment. Committing some of those crimes, however, can also result in the revocation or withdrawal of the nationality from its perpetrator as an accessory penalty imposed by force of law. This research dealt with such inquiry in the context of United Arab Emirates. The study concluded that cybercrimes that may result in the withdrawal of nationality from a naturalized or affiliated citizen but not the citizen by law, are those cybercrimes stipulated in the law on combating cybercrimes related to honour and trust, and fall into eleven cybercrimes. The study also found that emerging cybercrimes that cannot be imagined to be committed without electronic means and that its commission may result in the revocation or withdrawal of nationality for everyone who holds it (citizen by operation of law, by naturalization, or by affiliation) fall into eight crimes.