It is a criminal offence if one is aborting a child and anyone is assisting the abortion of a child.

I have been married for two years and we are from the same GCC country. We moved to Abu Dhabi recently and do not have any children. Now I am pregnant but I wish to terminate my pregnancy as I am unhappy in my marriage. I am regularly subjected to abuse - both physically and emotionally - by my husband. I wanted to know can I terminate the pregnancy. It is my last resort but I feel it will be an unsafe environment to raise a child in. Please advise.

It is a criminal offence if one is aborting a child and anyone is assisting the abortion of a child.

A pregnancy can only be terminated at any stage if it is dangerous to the life of the pregnant woman and or to the child. Pregnancy may be aborted if the child could not survive after birth provided the pregnancy is not more than 120 days. Further, pregnancy may be aborted pursuant to a court order.

Anyone aborts pregnancy and conspires for the said act of abortion of pregnancy shall be charged with criminal offence in accordance with Article 340 of the Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 regarding issuance of penal Code which states: "Whoever wilfully aborts a pregnant woman by giving her drugs or by applying any other means which lead to abortion, shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years. Punishment by imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years shall be inflicted if the crime is committed without her consent."

Know the law

Whoever willfully aborts a pregnant woman by giving her drugs or by applying any other means which lead to abortion, shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years. Punishment by imprisonment for a period not exceeding seven years shall be inflicted if the crime is committed without her consent.

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