Gulf News, 8 March 2026: The UAE has issued a strong warning against circulating rumours or unverified crisis‑related content online, stressing that offenders face heavy fines and potential imprisonment.

Authorities have detected a noticeable rise in false news, manipulated videos, and misleading images circulating on social media amid ongoing regional tensions. Many of the materials have repurposed old footage from unrelated incidents abroad, presenting them as current events inside the UAE.

Attorney General Hamid Saif Al Shamsi has warned residents against photographing or sharing images and videos of accident sites or damage caused by falling debris, noting that such content could provoke public panic or distort the perception of safety conditions in the country. He has affirmed that public‑safety institutions continue to operate effectively and that daily life remains stable nationwide.

Legal experts cited that spreading rumours or unverified information constitutes a criminal offence under Federal Decree-Law No. 34/2021 concerning the Fight Against Rumors and Cybercrime. Article 52 of Federal Decree-Law No. 34/2021 provides for penalties including up to two years in prison and fines reaching Dh200,000 for publishing or reposting false or misleading information that contradicts official announcements or harms public security.

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