UAE orders release of 606 prisoners ahead of National Day

Dubai: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Vice President, on Monday ordered the release of 606 inmates of Dubai’s punitive and corrective institutions ahead of the UAE’s 46th National Day, media reports said.

The Gulf Arab state will observe its 46th National Day on December 2, Xinhua news agency reported.

Dubai’s Attorney General, Essam Eisa Al-Humaidan, said that the order reflects the keenness of the UAE Vice President “to offer the pardoned inmates a chance to reintegrate into society and an opportunity to start a new life and ease the suffering of their families”.

No further details about the pardoned inmates’ nationalities, gender or ages were provided by state news agency WAM.

Al-Humaidan added that the Public Prosecution has started coordinating with Dubai Police to implement the order.

Gulf Arab leaders traditionally announce the release of local and foreign inmates ahead of religious festivities and national holidays.

—IANS