The UAE National Media Authority (UAENMA) has underscored the critical role of media during ongoing regional tensions within the country. The UAENMA has issued a formal circular providing explicit guidelines on what to do and what not to do regarding social media usage. People have been instructed to
- Refrain from filming, recording, posting or circulating content from unofficial sources.
- Refrain from circulating any content that includes incitement, abuse, unverified information, or any material that may harm public interest.
There has also been a strict warning that immediate legal action will be enforced if these instructions are not followed. The UAE maintains a zero-tolerance approach to media and news dissemination. Spreading rumours or unverified information is punishable under the law. Article 52 of the UAE Federal Decree-Law on Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes states that anyone who shares, spreads, or reposts false news or unverified rumours that could stir public fear, or harm the economy or national interests will face imprisonment for at least one year and a fine of no less than AED 100,000. If public opinion is incited against any UAE authority or entity, especially during a crisis, the punishment can go up to two years in prison and a fine of AED 200,000.
UAE Rejects Bloomberg’s Inaccurate Claims
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also issued a statement rejecting the ‘inaccurate and misleading’ claims in a Bloomberg report. The authorities stated that the country has a wide range of advanced, multi-layered air‑defence systems which can effectively counter a full spectrum of aerial threats. The Ministry also stressed the importance of responsible journalism and the necessity of verifying information with official sources before publishing inaccurate reports.
