This study examines the legislative integration between Islamic Sharia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) statutory law in combating cyber fraud, driven by the rapid expansion of digital technologies and the rising threat of cybercrimes targeting assets, data, and institutional trust. The study aims to elucidate the Islamic jurisprudential basis (Sharia) for criminalizing cyber fraud, analyze the statutory framework established by the UAE legislature, and demonstrate the points of convergence between the Sharia perspective and positive law. Adopting an analytical methodology, this research examines classical Sharia texts and principles of Islamic jurisprudence alongside a detailed study of UAE Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2021 on Combating Rumors and Cybercrimes. The findings reveal that Islamic Sharia possesses a robust legislative foundation for criminalizing cyber fraud through its higher objectives (Maqasid al-Sharia), specifically the preservation of property (Hifdh al-Mal), and the absolute prohibition of deceit and unlawful misappropriation. Furthermore, the flexibility of Sharia legal maxims enables the seamless accommodation of contemporary emerging crimes. Concurrently, UAE legislation has adopted an advanced penal policy characterized by the explicit criminalization of various forms of cyber fraud, the imposition of stringent penalties, and the enactment of proactive measures to safeguard digital ecosystems. The study concludes that a clear integration exists between the two frameworks: Sharia provides the foundational ethical and value-based framework, while UAE statutory law provides the precise procedural and regulatory mechanisms necessary for deterrence and prevention. Finally, the study recommends continuous legislative evolution to keep pace with technological advancements, the enhancement of legal and digital literacy, the strengthening of domestic institutional cooperation, and the consolidation of international frameworks to effectively counter cross-border cyber fraud.
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