Under the UAE Cybercrime Law, penalties may include significant fines—typically ranging from Dh250,000 to Dh500,000 or more depending on the offence—as well as possible imprisonment.
Residents who regularly use social media apps such as WhatsApp for family, school, and community communication are being warned that private chats are not exempt from the UAE’s cybercrime laws. Lawyers note that many people may unknowingly violate the law by forwarding unverified content or sharing images without consent.
“Many people often do not realise that private chats and WhatsApp groups are not exempt from UAE laws, and sharing content can lead to legal consequences,” said lawyer Sam Moore of BSA Law. He added that residents should be careful and avoid posting or forwarding material that could be misleading, offensive, or invasive.
He pointed out three frequent mistakes users make without realising they may be breaking the law: sharing private conversations through forwards or screenshots without permission, circulating unverified news on sensitive issues, and tagging or naming individuals in complaints that could damage their reputation.
Dr Hasan Elhais, legal consultant at Amal Al Rashedi Lawyers and Legal Consultants, emphasised that legal responsibility is not confined to public posts. He noted that “private communications, including WhatsApp groups, have been the basis of successful prosecutions, reinforcing that ‘private’ does not mean ‘legally protected’.” He added that penalties under the UAE Cybercrime Law may include heavy fines—often ranging from Dh250,000 to Dh500,000 or more depending on the offence—as well as possible imprisonment.
Authorities have also reported multiple arrests this year linked to WhatsApp activity. In March, 25 individuals were detained and faced expedited trials for allegedly publishing and circulating digital content described by the UAE Attorney General, Hamad Al Shamsi, as misleading and intended to undermine national defence measures.
Legal experts further clarified that forwarding WhatsApp messages can be treated as re-publication. Lawyer Sam Moore explained that under Article 52 of the Cybercrime Law, anyone who “publishes, re-publishes, circulates or re-circulates” unlawful content may be held accountable, even if they did not create it.
He warned that users who forward messages—whether news, videos, or comments—can still face liability if the content is false, defamatory, misleading, or otherwise unlawful. Dr Elhais supported this view, stating that UAE courts treat forwarding via WhatsApp, email, or social media as a new act of publication, and individuals have been prosecuted even without being the original author.
He also noted that authorities rely heavily on digital evidence such as chat logs, screenshots, and metadata, making enforcement straightforward. Courts, he added, focus on the impact of dissemination rather than intent, meaning lack of malicious purpose does not necessarily remove liability.
On WhatsApp group admins, Moore said there are no strict monitoring duties, but liability can still arise if unlawful content is allowed to circulate unchecked. Under Article 53, individuals may be responsible if they fail to act after becoming aware of illegal content.
He advised admins to remove unlawful posts promptly, warn or remove offending members, and avoid engaging with or endorsing such material. Users in general were urged to avoid interacting with provocative or sensitive content, and to delete and disengage from it to reduce legal risk.
