UAE announces relaxing of Islamic laws for personal freedoms

The United Arab Emirates has announced the relaxing of Islamic laws for personal freedoms on Saturday.

This includes a major overhaul of the country’s Islamic personal laws, allowing unmarried couples to cohabitate and relaxing alcohol restrictions.

The development comes after the historic US-brokered deal to normalise relations between the UAE and Israel, expected to bring an influx of Israeli tourists and investment. 

“The reforms aim to boost the country’s economic and social standing and consolidate the UAE’s principles of tolerance,” state-run WAM news agency reported.

The government said the legal reforms were part of efforts to improve legislation and the investment climate in the country, as well as to consolidate “tolerance principles”.

According to The National, the changes said would take immediate effect, also reflect the efforts of the Emirates rulers to keep pace with a rapidly changing society at home.

The state-linked newspaper The National, has extensively outlined the government decrees behind the changes, however did not cite its source.