Since the ancient time exists the consideration to find alternatives to custodial sentences as fundamental step in the reform process. There is a variety of alternatives for punitive policy makers according to the circumstances and social interests. Many of legislations resorted to various alternatives, which are under the consideration of the judicial authority, from which they may choose what suits each case in accordance to the discretionary power in this regard. The custodial sentences are those that require its implementation to put the convicted person under custody in a certain place for a certain period of time, depriving him of his freedom to move on wherever he desires; as stipulated by the UAE legislator in the 5th section of the 1st book of the UAE Federal law. With alternatives to custodial sentences, its means a group of legal procedures, which are issued by penalty judgment against offenders who are found guilty in a legal offense, which does not entail deprivation of their freedom by subjecting them to punitive treatment; its kind to be determined in the judgment, aiming to their re-qualifying and their reformation.

There are many forms and types of alternative penalties. These alternatives may focus on restricting the freedom of the convicted person or affecting his financial liability. The most important of  those alternatives are the traditional ones such as to suspend the execution, judicial examination, conditional release and judicial pardons; alternatives affecting financial liability and corporate entity such as fines,court reprimands ,obligation to remove the damage and compensation of the victim; and the modern alternatives such as reform work and service of society and to be placed under electronic monitoring. The UAE legislator keeps pace with development in regard with finding alternatives to custodial sentences and has recently issued Federal Law Decree No. 17/2018 that amended some provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law, which states the penal order, which to be considered as alternative to custodial sentence, as a judicial order to impose a fine. The same decree also issued the electronic monitoring system, such procedure which aims to deprive the convicted person or defendant of  being absent of his place of residence or any other place designated by the order issued by the Public Prosecution or the competent court according to circumstances in other period of times, except those times allotted to him. It shall be implemented through electronic means that allow online monitoring and which obligates the subject person to carry electronic DVD transmitter device throughout the period of observation.