The United Arab Emirates government has scrapped a ban on unmarried couples living together and has also done away with reduced sentences for so-called "honour" killings.

The oil-rich country has raised penalties for rape and sexual harassment.

The new laws are aimed at the country’s multicultural residents as it seeks to carve a new identity for itself.

There will no longer be separate sentencing guidelines for "honour" killings.

According to reports, "honour" killings will now be punishable like any other crime in which jail terms was between three and 15 years.

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has included changes to the sentencing guidelines for other offences related to women.

Reports say there will be harsher penalties in harassment cases, while the rape of a minor and of "someone with a limited mental capacity" will attract the death penalty.

Also, there won't be any penalties against those found drinking alcohol without a licence, however, individuals must still be over 21 to purchase or consume alcohol.

The new rules include several other changes in inheritance and the court system.

The United Arab Emirates government has scrapped a ban on unmarried couples living together and has also done away with reduced sentences for so-called "honour" killings.

The United Arab Emirates government has scrapped a ban on unmarried couples living together and has also done away with reduced sentences for so-called "honour" killings. The oil-rich country has raised penalties for rape and sexual harassment. The new laws are aimed at the country’s multicultural residents as it seeks to carve a new identity for itself. There will no longer be separate sentencing guidelines for "honour" killings. According to reports, "honour" killings will now be punishable like any other crime in which jail terms was between three and 15 years. UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has included changes to the sentencing guidelines for other offences related to women. Reports say there will be harsher penalties in harassment cases, while the rape of a minor and of "someone with a limited mental capacity" will attract the death penalty. Also, there won't be any penalties against those found drinking alcohol without a licence, however, individuals must still be over 21 to purchase or consume alcohol. The new rules include several other changes in inheritance and the court system.

UAE allows unmarried couples to live together in sweeping law reforms

The United Arab Emirates on Monday pardoned a British researcher who was sentenced last week to life in prison for spying, an official statement said.

Matthew Hedges was among more than 700 prisoners pardoned by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on the occasion of National Day.

"Mr. Hedges will be permitted to leave the UAE once formalities are completed," the statement said.

On Wednesday, a UAE&nbsp;court had sentenced British student and researcher Matthew Hedges to life in jail on spying charges. The arrest prompted a "shocked" Britain to warn of repercussions for relations with its longstanding Gulf ally.

Hedges, a 31-year-old PhD student, had protested his innocence ever since his arrest at Dubai airport on May 5 and British ministers had raised his case at the highest level.

Hedges was researching the UAE's foreign and internal security policies after the Arab Spring revolutions of 2011, studies that Britain insisted were entirely innocuous but which the UAE said threatened its political and economic security.&nbsp;

The United Arab Emirates on Monday pardoned a British researcher who was sentenced last week to life in prison for spying, an official statement said. Matthew Hedges was among more than 700 prisoners pardoned by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on the occasion of National Day.

The United Arab Emirates on Monday pardoned a British researcher who was sentenced last week to life in prison for spying, an official statement said. Matthew Hedges was among more than 700 prisoners pardoned by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on the occasion of National Day. "Mr. Hedges will be permitted to leave the UAE once formalities are completed," the statement said. On Wednesday, a UAE court had sentenced British student and researcher Matthew Hedges to life in jail on spying charges. The arrest prompted a "shocked" Britain to warn of repercussions for relations with its longstanding Gulf ally. Hedges, a 31-year-old PhD student, had protested his innocence ever since his arrest at Dubai airport on May 5 and British ministers had raised his case at the highest level. Hedges was researching the UAE's foreign and internal security policies after the Arab Spring revolutions of 2011, studies that Britain insisted were entirely innocuous but which the UAE said threatened its political and economic security.

UAE pardons British researcher Matthew Hedges sentenced to life for spying

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UAE allows unmarried couples to live together in sweeping law reforms

UAE pardons British researcher Matthew Hedges sentenced to life for spying