Authorities in Abu Dhabi have issued a stern reminder to the public: spreading false information online can lead to jail time and steep financial penalties under the UAE Cybercrime Law.
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, together with Abu Dhabi Police, highlighted the serious legal consequences of circulating rumors or misleading news via digital platforms. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Judicial Department emphasized that Article 52 of Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 strictly prohibits the publication of inaccurate or harmful information that contradicts official data or disturbs public peace.
Violators risk a minimum of one year in prison and fines starting at AED 100,000. However, if the offense occurs during critical situations—such as emergencies, epidemics, or crises—or if the misinformation targets state institutions, the punishment increases to at least two years in jail and a fine of no less than AED 200,000.
Abu Dhabi Police urged the public to rely on official sources and refrain from sharing unverified content. They stressed that false news undermines “the values of positive citizenship and social responsibility,” and called on residents to report any misinformation encountered online.
The Cybercrime Law, which took effect on January 2, 2022, was designed to tackle a wide range of digital offenses. These include electronic document forgery, hacking, online scams, blackmail, the spread of fake advertisements and unlicensed medical products, unauthorized opinion polls, and the use of bots to disseminate false content.