From Influencer, Tourists To Expats: How The UAE Is Policing Its Social Media Elite

Last Updated:March 18, 2026, 15:29 IST

Authorities have framed the violations under broader cybercrime and national security laws, but the offences fall into three clear categories- misleading, AI-generated, propaganda

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have arrested many individuals across Dubai and Abu Dhabi for filming, sharing, or commenting on social media content linked to recent Iranian missile and drone strikes.

The incidents, which prompted widespread online circulation of videos showing interceptions and debris, have led to a sweeping crackdown. Officials say even routine actions such as recording or reposting footage are being treated as potential legal violations under cybercrime and national security laws.

What would typically be considered real-time documentation of unfolding events is now under scrutiny, as authorities move to control the spread of sensitive and unverified content during a period of heightened regional tension.

At least 35 people were detained in one sweep alone, as reported by Gulf News with additional arrests in separate cases, including foreign nationals and tourists.

What emerges is a shift that is both subtle and significant: during moments of conflict, posting is no longer a passive act—it is a regulated one.

Who is Being Targeted in This Crackdown?

With more than 88% of the UAE’s 11.5 million residents classified as expatriates — Indians alone accounting for roughly 4.1 million — the message is unmistakable, the authorities are policing the very workforce and consumer base that the country’s tourism and “influencer-friendly" brand so aggressively courts.

The UAE’s Attorney-General has warned of “immediate criminal accountability", stating that authorities will not tolerate any attempt to “exploit cyberspace" during a crisis. Among those charged is a 60-year-old British man in Dubai, a case that has already drawn international attention.

“There are countless images, videos and news reports circulating online about the conflict. People understandably assume that if something is already widely shared or published by media outlets, it must be acceptable to comment on or repost it. In the UAE, that assumption can be extremely dangerous," Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai told in a news release statement.

According to Stirling, the British tourist arrested said he deleted the video immediately when asked and had no intent to cause harm, yet he has still been swept into the broader group facing charges.

But the recent crackdown is not a targeted sweep of high-profile creators. It is a wide net cast over anyone engaging with sensitive content online. Those caught up in the arrests include:

• Tourists unfamiliar with local regulations
• Residents sharing updates in real time
• Social media users forwarding videos or reacting to events
• Individuals posting content later deemed misleading or unverifiable

What Type Of Content Is Considered As An Offence?

Authorities have framed the violations under broader cybercrime and national security laws, but the offences fall into three clear categories. According to the state news agency WAM, the individuals charged fall into three distinct categories, each different in method, but treated with equal seriousness under the law.

1. Real Footage, Altered Narrative

This group shared genuine videos of missiles in UAE airspace or interception by defence systems. However, authorities say the content was edited or accompanied by commentary and sound designed to heighten fear and create a sense of alarm.

2. Fabricated and AI-Driven Content

Another set of individuals circulated manipulated visuals—ranging from AI-generated clips to outdated footage from other regions—presented as real-time events within the UAE. Some posts even depicted strikes on recognisable landmarks to make them appear credible.

3. Content Framed as Propaganda

The final category involves posts that appeared to endorse or glorify a hostile nation’s military actions during the ongoing regional tensions, framing them as victories or achievements.

Different approaches, but from the authorities’ perspective, the impact is the same: misleading the public and destabilising the information environment.

Is Resharing Content As Risky As Posting?

Many of those detained were not the original creators of the content they shared. Instead, they:

• Reposted videos already circulating online
• Forwarded clips through messaging apps
• Shared updates without verifying context
• The issue here is amplification.

Penalties and Prison Time

The penalties are substantial. Offenders face a minimum one-year prison term, along with fines starting at Dh100,000 (£20,400/$27,300). For foreign nationals, this may be followed by deportation. In cases deemed more serious particularly those linked to national security sentences can extend to two years, with fines reaching Dh200,000 (£40,900/$54,500).

Why is UAE Taking Strict Action?

From the authorities’ perspective, the response is both necessary and proportionate to the situation. The missile and drone strikes created a highly visible and rapidly evolving scenario—one in which information spread faster than it could be verified. In such an environment, social media is not neutral. It can shape perception, escalate fear, and circulate inaccuracies within minutes.

The rationale behind the crackdown rests on four key concerns:

• Preventing panic: Unverified footage and commentary can amplify fear far beyond the actual scale of events
• Protecting national security: Videos may reveal defence capabilities, infrastructure, or strategic responses
• Controlling misinformation: The rise of AI-generated and repurposed content increases the risk of misleading narratives
• Maintaining public order: Stability remains central, particularly in a country positioned as a global hub

What this really means is that information itself becomes part of the security landscape. Not just what happens, but how it is seen, shared, and understood.

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