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UAE
August 25, 2023
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UAE Introduces Stringent Media Law — Fines Reach Dh1 Million

The United Arab Emirates’s new media law, effective 29 May 2025, mandates licensing for all media entities and content creators and imposes fines up to Dh1 million for serious violations including insults to religion, misinformation or operating without a licence.

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A new regulatory framework for the media sector in the United Arab Emirates took effect on 29 May 2025, imposing strict rules across digital and traditional platforms.Under the updated law, fines can reach up to Dh1 million for serious offences, such as insulting religious beliefs or operating without valid licensing.The legislation underpins the UAE’s focus on ethical media practices, transparency and accountability. It outlines numerous prohibited actions—ranging from moral and religious violations to threats against national interests— with penalties structured to increase for repeat infractions.Here is a list of offences:

Spiritual & Moral Breaches

  • Offending divine essence, Islamic tenets or other recognised faiths: Fine up to Dh1,000,000.

  • Breaching public decency or advocating destructive ideologies: Fine up to Dh100,000.

  • Distributing or publishing material that incites criminal acts (such as murder, rape, or drug abuse): Fine up to Dh150,000.

To achieve this, it would be necessary to have uniform grammar, pronunciation and more common words. If several languages coalesce, the grammar of the resulting language is more simple and regular than that of the individual languages.

Sovereign and Public Goals

  • Foreign Relations
  • Social Harmony
  • Policy Offences
  • Symbol Disrespect

Licensing Infractions

  • Engaging in media operations without a valid licence:
    • First‑time violation: AED 10,000.
    • Repeat offence: AED 40,000.

  • Failing to renew a licence within 30 days of its expiry: AED 150 per day, up to a ceiling of AED 3,000.

  • Altering licence details (such as transfers, adding partners or changing information) without obtaining approval: fine up to AED 20,000.

  • Continuing to publish using an expired licence:
    • First violation: AED 10,000.
    • Repeated violation: AED 20,000 (with subsequent offences subject to doubling of the fine).

Misleading Information and Deception

Under the UAE’s new media law, the penalties for disseminating false information are as follows:

  • First offence: AED 5,000

  • Repeated offence: AED 10,000

These fines apply to individuals or entities found guilty of spreading false or misleading information. The law emphasizes the importance of responsible media practices and aims to ensure the accuracy and reliability of information disseminated to the public. Repeat offenders face escalating penalties to deter the spread of misinformation.

Event and Media Infractions

Here are alternative phrasings for the specified media law violations:

  1. Unauthorized Event Organization:
    First violation: AED 10,000
    Subsequent violations: AED 40,000

  2. Operating Media Activities Without a Valid Licence:
    Initial infraction: AED 10,000
    Repeat infraction: AED 40,000

These penalties underscore the UAE’s commitment to regulating media activities and ensuring compliance with licensing requirements. The escalating fines for repeated offences serve as a deterrent to unauthorized operations. 

Foreign-Based Reporters

  • Under the UAE’s new media law, foreign correspondents operating without a valid licence face escalating penalties:

    • First violation: Issuance of up to three written warnings.

    • Subsequent violations: A fine of AED 10,000.

    These measures underscore the UAE’s commitment to regulating media activities and ensuring compliance with licensing requirements. The escalating fines for repeated offences serve as a deterrent to unauthorized operations. 

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  1. adamgordon

    Reply
    April 22, 2021

    Thanks for sharing this information is useful for us.

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