"Recorded Remarks Lead to Penalties": UAE authorities issue caution, stating that comments, not merely posts, can result in financial penalties.
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the digital world is not a haven for careless comments or defamatory remarks. The authorities in the UAE have made it clear that saying "I didn't know" is not a valid excuse for violating cybercrime laws.
The penalties for online insults or defamation can be severe, with imprisonment for up to 2 years and fines ranging from AED 250,000 to AED 500,000. These penalties can be more severe when the abuse targets public officials or is published through widely followed accounts.
Many users in the UAE remain unaware that even short replies, negative, abusive, or defamatory comments, posts, video, audio, or live streams on social media or other online platforms can lead to prosecution. If a comment causes personal insult, moral harm, or reputational damage, it becomes a criminal matter, as confirmed by Colonel Omar Ahmed Abu Al Zawd, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Sharjah Police.
The types of content considered punishable under UAE cybercrime laws include written or verbal abuse using information technology, false information dissemination, especially during emergencies like pandemics, and comments, replies, or reposts of defamatory content—any participation implicates legal responsibility.
The relevant laws include Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021, amended by Law No. 5 of 2024, and Federal Law No. 3 of 1987 (Penal Code), Articles 371–380, on criminal defamation. These laws mandate that all digital content must comply with UAE’s national values and laws, with enforcement increasingly strict due to the ease of tracing and identifying offenders online.
The UAE maintains a robust legal framework to ensure respectful online conduct and protects reputation and public order by criminalizing online insults and defamation with significant fines and prison sentences. Courts rely on digital evidence, and most users underestimate how easily they can be identified, according to legal consultant Wael Obaid.
Authorities in the UAE have issued a warning to social media users, urging them to refrain from posting or replying to any content in a negative, abusive, or defamatory manner. If users disagree with a post, they are advised to scroll past or report it through proper channels, rather than responding with abuse.
Every word posted, whether it's a written post, video, audio clip, or live stream, is recorded, traceable, and can result in legal action, emphasized Major Abdullah Al Sheihi, acting director of the Cyber Crime Department at Dubai Police. The law in the UAE is clear - online insults, even within comment threads or replies, are punishable.
In conclusion, the UAE has established a clear and strict legal framework to maintain a respectful digital environment. Users are reminded that online respect is not optional—it's the law.
- In the UAE, users must be aware that even a brief and abusive comment or reply, posted on social media or other online platforms, can result in criminal charges for online insults or defamation and attract severe penalties, such as imprisonment for up to 2 years and fines ranging from AED 250,000 to AED 500,000.
- The UAE's cybercrime laws not only criminalize direct defamation but also the reposting or sharing of defamatory content. This means that participating in any way that contributes to the dissemination of defamatory content can also lead to legal responsibility.
- When it comes to protecting reputation and public order, the UAE's legal framework is robust, criminalizing online insults and defamation with significant fines and prison sentences. Users are encouraged to avoid posting negative, abusive, or defamatory comments, replies, or reposts, as every word posted is traceable and can lead to legal action according to Major Abdullah Al Sheihi, acting director of the Cyber Crime Department at Dubai Police.
