WhatsApp in the UAE: fines and criminal liability for forwarding messages
The use of messaging apps in the UAE has become risky. Fines and even criminal liability may apply for publishing and distributing content in chats. Forwarding messages may be treated as publication and a violation of cybercrime laws, Khaleej Times reports.
Messaging on WhatsApp is risky in the UAE
Lawyers in the UAE emphasize that messaging app users often underestimate the legal risks of everyday communication. Sam Moore of BSA Law stated that private chats and group discussions do not exempt users from liability. A common mistake is forwarding unverified information, sharing screenshots without consent, and discussing contentious or sensitive topics involving specific individuals. Such actions may lead to legal consequences if the content is found to be misleading, offensive, or invasive of privacy.
Forwarding a WhatsApp message may be considered a new publication. Article 52 of the UAE Cybercrime Law covers those who create and distribute content. This means that a user who forwards a message may be held responsible even if they are not the original author of the text, video, or image. This applies to all forms of content.
Some clarifications also concern group chat administrators. They have no specific obligation to continuously monitor messages, but liability may arise if they allow the distribution of illegal content. The lawyer recommended that administrators promptly respond to such messages by deleting them, warning participants, and restricting access for offenders.
Case law in the UAE
Legal consultant Hasan Alhais from Amal Al Rashedi Lawyers and Legal Consultants emphasized that there have already been cases in the UAE where WhatsApp conversations formed the basis for criminal prosecution. Courts treat message forwarding as an independent act of information dissemination, regardless of whether the person was the original author.
Fines under the cybercrime law may range from 250,000 to 500,000 dirhams or more, and in some cases offenders may face imprisonment. To prove dissemination, digital traces are used, including chat logs, screenshots, and metadata. This facilitates tracing the chain of transmission and strengthens the evidentiary basis of prosecution. The expert also noted that the absence of malicious intent does not always exempt liability, as the key factor is the act of dissemination and its consequences.
Arrests in the UAE for WhatsApp messages
In March 2026, 25 people were arrested for allegedly distributing digital content deemed misleading and harmful to national security measures. UAE Attorney General Hamad Al Shamsi described such materials as disinformation directed against state interests.
The most well-known case was the detention of an Emirates airline flight attendant in Dubai. He sent a photo in WhatsApp of a building hit by a drone and asked colleagues whether it was safe to go to work.
In Abu Dhabi, by March 20, 109 people of different nationalities had been arrested for videos and photos that could “incite public opinion.” Detainees were charged with spreading false information. All these cases have raised questions about freedom of expression and the boundaries of digital privacy in the UAE.
What tourists and other foreigners in the UAE should consider
Analysts at International Investment note that risks associated with staying in the UAE have increased, despite a pause in hostilities. Private messages and forwards may be treated as publication in violation of local laws. The most sensitive content includes military incidents, falling debris, critical infrastructure security, and information from unofficial sources.
This practice may affect thousands of foreigners living, working, or traveling in the UAE, who regularly use messaging apps to communicate with colleagues, friends, and family. It is advised to remain highly cautious even in private communication and to take into account further tightening of regulations linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict.