If you are living in or visiting the UAE right now, this is one of the most important articles you will read. Authorities across the Emirates have arrested 189 people since the Iran conflict began for filming, posting and sharing content related to missile and drone attacks. The number is rising every day and the people being caught include tourists, domestic workers, sailors and social media influencers from dozens of different nationalities. Nobody is exempt and the penalties are serious.
This is not about intent. This is not about whether you meant any harm. People who deleted their videos immediately when confronted by police have still been charged. Understanding exactly what the law says is no longer optional for anyone living in the UAE.
What Has Happened So Far
Abu Dhabi Police announced on Friday that 109 individuals of various nationalities had been detained for filming sites and incidents and circulating incorrect information via social media platforms during the current conflict. The statement said such actions were liable to incite public opinion and spread rumours among members of the community.
That figure is part of a broader total of 189 arrests made across the UAE in connection with alleged violations of the country’s cybercrime laws since February 28. The UAE attorney general has separately referred 35 people to expedited trial for posting videos on social media that promote misleading narratives. Those trials are already underway.
Who Is Being Arrested
The arrests have involved an extraordinarily wide range of people. A 60-year-old British tourist was charged after police found a video on his phone showing missile activity over Dubai. He said he deleted it immediately when asked by officers and had no intention of sharing it. He was still charged. The British Embassy in the UAE confirmed the case and issued an official warning to all British nationals about the risks.
A Filipina domestic worker was detained near the Burj Al Arab after taking a photograph while waiting for work. Officers checked her phone, found an image related to the conflict and arrested her. A Vietnamese sailor from a cargo vessel in Fujairah was detained after allegedly sharing video of missile activity that he filmed while outside UAE territory entirely. He was taken ashore by the coast guard.
Social media influencers who have built large followings in Dubai have also been caught up in the crackdown. The advocacy organisation Detained in Dubai has said arrests have involved people from European, Asian and South Asian countries and that similar measures have been taken in Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
What Exactly Is Banned
Under UAE cybercrime law the following actions can result in criminal charges. Filming missile or drone impacts anywhere in the UAE. Filming interception operations by UAE air defence systems. Sharing photographs or videos of damage caused by attacks. Reposting content from other social media accounts even if the content is already widely circulating online. Forwarding images or videos through messaging applications including WhatsApp and Telegram. Posting commentary that could be interpreted as glorifying Iranian attacks or the Iranian government.
The attorney general’s office has been explicit that sharing content means any act of transmission including posting, forwarding, reposting or sending through private messaging channels. The widespread circulation of content elsewhere on the internet does not make it safe for UAE residents to share.
What Are the Penalties
The minimum penalty under UAE cybercrime law for violations of this kind is two years in prison. On top of that, fines range from AED 20,000, which is approximately $5,444, up to AED 200,000, which is approximately $54,449. In the most serious cases both prison time and the maximum fine can apply simultaneously. Deportation is also a possible consequence for non-citizens.
These are not theoretical penalties. The attorney general’s office has stated clearly that prosecutions are proceeding and that the legal process for those already referred to expedited trial is moving quickly.
What the Government Says
UAE officials have offered two main justifications for the crackdown. The first is physical safety. The UAE ambassador to the UK said the restrictions exist to stop people from going outside and filming during active defence operations, which puts them at risk from falling debris and shrapnel. The second justification is national security. Officials say that footage of missile impacts can reveal sensitive information about the effectiveness of defence systems and the location of damage.
Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said in a statement that recording and sharing content related to the attacks can incite public panic and create a false impression of the country’s actual situation. The government’s position is that the UAE remains safe and functional and that the spread of dramatic footage undermines that message.
Simple Rules to Stay Safe
Do not film explosions, interceptions or any aftermath of attacks regardless of where you are standing. Do not photograph damaged buildings or infrastructure. Do not share, forward or repost any such content from any source. If you have such content on your phone from before you were aware of the law delete it immediately. Follow only official UAE government channels for information about the security situation. If you are unsure whether a piece of content is safe to share the safest answer is not to share it.
For the full background on the security situation in the UAE read our coverage of UAE air defences intercepting over 2,000 Iranian missiles and drones in 21 days and our article on the UAE dismantling an Iran-Hezbollah terror network operating through business fronts.
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