The United Arab Emirates has recently intensified its enforcement of laws against negative, abusive, and defamatory comments on social media platforms, signaling a strict legal environment for online speech. Authorities across the UAE , including police in Sharjah and Dubai, have issued stern warnings that not only posts but even comments or replies, whether written, audio, video, or live can lead to criminal charges, imprisonment, and hefty fines under the country’s cybercrime and defamation laws.
Under Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021, amended in 2024, online insults, defamation, and spreading of false or misleading information are criminal offenses. These laws protect individuals, businesses, and public officials from reputational harm caused by defamatory digital content. Authorities emphasize that users often underestimate that even short comment replies or live session remarks are recorded, traceable, and prosecutable.
TL;DR:
Key legal provisions and penalties:
Enforcement trends
In recent years, the UAE has witnessed a growing number of enforcement actions against individuals who post negative reviews, comments, or defamatory content on social media. Several high-profile cases illustrate the seriousness of these laws in practice. In one instance, a woman was fined after posting a viral Instagram video criticizing a hospital. In another, a man was ordered to pay AED 70,000 in damages for defamatory remarks that harmed a business’s reputation. Legal experts warn that even emotional outbursts or venting personal grievances online can have legal repercussions, as the country’s cybercrime and defamation laws cover a wide range of digital expressions.
Government and authority messages:
Authorities have consistently urged residents and visitors to exercise caution in their online behaviour by avoiding personal attacks, abusive language, or insulting remarks, and to instead use official reporting channels when raising complaints. Senior law enforcement officials emphasize that all forms of digital communication, from written posts to comments, replies, live streams, and even private messages are monitored and recorded. Users are reminded to uphold values of respect, tolerance, and coexistence in line with the UAE’s cultural and social norms. The UAE’s National Media Office has further stressed that every social media user acts as an ambassador for the country’s reputation, carrying a responsibility to engage respectfully online. Under existing media regulations, breaches can result in severe administrative measures, including fines of up to AED 1 million or, in the case of media outlets, the closure of the establishment for violations.
The UAE’s updated and strictly enforced cybercrime and defamation laws create a robust environment where online negative comments or defamatory remarks are treated as serious offenses. The legal framework aims to balance freedom of expression with protection against digital harm, ensuring peaceful and respectful online interactions in line with the country’s cultural and social values. Internet users and content creators are urged to recognize that every comment and post leaves a digital footprint that can have significant legal consequences, including large fines and imprisonment.
Under Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021, amended in 2024, online insults, defamation, and spreading of false or misleading information are criminal offenses. These laws protect individuals, businesses, and public officials from reputational harm caused by defamatory digital content. Authorities emphasize that users often underestimate that even short comment replies or live session remarks are recorded, traceable, and prosecutable.
TL;DR:
- The UAE is intensifying enforcement of cybercrime and defamation laws, warning that even social media comments, replies, and live interactions can lead to criminal charges.
- Offenders face fines of AED 250,000–500,000, possible imprisonment, and civil claims for damages; reposting defamatory content also incurs liability.
- Authorities urge respectful digital conduct, stressing that all online activity is traceable and must comply with national values and laws.
Key legal provisions and penalties:
- Fines: Online defamation can lead to fines ranging from AED 250,000 to AED 500,000; repeated or aggravated cases may result in higher penalties.
- Imprisonment: Defamation, including libel (written) and slander (verbal), may carry jail terms, up to 2 years for libel and 1 year for slander.
- Criminal charges: Both civil and criminal cases can be filed by affected parties seeking reputation restoration and compensation.
- Broader cybercrime impact: Dissemination of false information, especially during emergencies like pandemics, carries heavier fines and jail terms.
- Responsibility: Sharing, reposting, or even replying to defamatory content implicates all parties legally.
- Scope: Defamation laws apply equally to private individuals and public officials, with some legal nuances for truth claims involving officials.
Enforcement trends
In recent years, the UAE has witnessed a growing number of enforcement actions against individuals who post negative reviews, comments, or defamatory content on social media. Several high-profile cases illustrate the seriousness of these laws in practice. In one instance, a woman was fined after posting a viral Instagram video criticizing a hospital. In another, a man was ordered to pay AED 70,000 in damages for defamatory remarks that harmed a business’s reputation. Legal experts warn that even emotional outbursts or venting personal grievances online can have legal repercussions, as the country’s cybercrime and defamation laws cover a wide range of digital expressions.
Government and authority messages:
Authorities have consistently urged residents and visitors to exercise caution in their online behaviour by avoiding personal attacks, abusive language, or insulting remarks, and to instead use official reporting channels when raising complaints. Senior law enforcement officials emphasize that all forms of digital communication, from written posts to comments, replies, live streams, and even private messages are monitored and recorded. Users are reminded to uphold values of respect, tolerance, and coexistence in line with the UAE’s cultural and social norms. The UAE’s National Media Office has further stressed that every social media user acts as an ambassador for the country’s reputation, carrying a responsibility to engage respectfully online. Under existing media regulations, breaches can result in severe administrative measures, including fines of up to AED 1 million or, in the case of media outlets, the closure of the establishment for violations.
The UAE’s updated and strictly enforced cybercrime and defamation laws create a robust environment where online negative comments or defamatory remarks are treated as serious offenses. The legal framework aims to balance freedom of expression with protection against digital harm, ensuring peaceful and respectful online interactions in line with the country’s cultural and social values. Internet users and content creators are urged to recognize that every comment and post leaves a digital footprint that can have significant legal consequences, including large fines and imprisonment.
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