If someone insults you, invades your privacy, blackmails you or defrauds you online in the UAE, stay calm, save the evidence without forwarding it, call your bank at once if money is involved, and report through an official police channel such as Dubai Police eCrime, the Ministry of Interior eCrimes platform in the MOI UAE app, or Abu Dhabi Police's Aman service. The main law is Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes, which makes online insults, privacy invasion and blackmail criminal offences.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for UAE residents and visitors who have been targeted online: an insulting or false post, a fake profile using their photos, private images shared without consent, threats or extortion, or a scam that took money from their account.
It is also useful if you are unsure whether something you have seen is worth reporting, or which police channel to use. It does not cover disputes that are only about a purchase or a service; for those, see consumer complaints in the UAE.
How the law treats online insults and privacy
The UAE Legislation platform lists the law as Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 On Countering Rumors and Cybercrimes. The UAE Government portal u.ae calls it the law on Combatting Rumours and Cybercrimes and says it took effect on 2 January 2022. It has been amended once, so always read the current consolidated text.
Three parts matter most for individuals:
- Article 43 (defamation and slander). Using a network or device to insult someone, or to attribute something to them that would expose them to punishment or contempt, is an offence. As of September 2026, per the UAE Legislation platform, the penalty is imprisonment and/or a fine of AED 250,000 to AED 500,000.
- Article 44 (privacy). Offences include recording or sharing private conversations or images without consent, taking or sharing photos of people, publishing information about someone with intent to harm them even if it is true, and tracking or sharing their location.
- Article 52 (rumours and false news). This covers anyone who publishes, re-publishes, circulates or re-circulates false news or rumours, not only the person who first posted it. It is aimed at content that could stir up public opinion, disturb public peace or harm the public interest, the economy, public order or public health.
The practical lesson: the law looks at what each person does with content. Article 43 does not mention re-sharing by name, but Article 44 expressly covers transmitting or disclosing private material, and Article 52 expressly covers re-publishing false news. Replying with insults, or forwarding the offending post "so people can see what they did", can expose you to a complaint too.
Where to report
| Situation | Official channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Incident in Dubai | Dubai Police eCrime (ecrime.ae or the Dubai Police app) | Free service; UAE Pass sign-in; the incident must have happened in Dubai |
| Anywhere in the UAE | Ministry of Interior eCrimes platform in the MOI UAE app | Listed on u.ae as a federal reporting channel |
| Abu Dhabi, confidential tip-off | Abu Dhabi Police Aman: 8002626, SMS 2828, aman@adpolice.gov.ae | Confidential; suited to blackmail and threats |
| Immediate danger | 999 | Any emirate |
| General police enquiries in Dubai | 901 | Non-emergency |
You can also go to the nearest police station. The Public Prosecution's My Safe Society app is also listed on u.ae as a reporting option. If you are not sure which body to approach first, the UAE authority navigator can help you choose.
Step by step
- Put safety first. If anyone threatens your physical safety, call 999 before doing anything else.
- Do not reply, pay or retaliate. Official police guidance is not to engage with or pay offenders, and answering insults with insults can create problems for you.
- Capture the evidence. Take screenshots that show the content, the account name, the profile link, and the date and time on screen.
- Save the links and full threads. Copy each URL and keep the whole conversation, not just the worst message, so the context is clear.
- Keep evidence private. Store it in a folder only you control and share it only with the police or your lawyer.
- Call your bank immediately if money moved. Ask them to block the card or account, flag the transaction and give you a reference number.
- Secure your accounts. Change passwords from a clean device and turn on multi-factor authentication.
- Report to the right police channel. Use the table above, attach your evidence and write down the report reference.
- Report the account to the platform. Use the app's own reporting tool after you have captured your evidence, because content may disappear.
- Keep a simple log. Note each new message, call or post with the date, and add it to your report through the same channel.
If you want help turning the material into an ordered file, try the evidence checklist builder.
Documents checklist
- Emirates ID or passport, and UAE Pass access for online reporting
- Screenshots showing the content, account name, profile link, date and time
- The URLs of posts, profiles and websites involved
- Full chat or email threads exported with sender, date and time
- Names or phone numbers used by the other person, if known
- Bank statements, transfer receipts and the bank's fraud reference number
- Any police, bank or platform reference numbers already issued
- A short dated timeline of what happened and when
Common mistakes
- Re-sharing the post to "expose" it. Forwarding or reposting can spread the harm and may itself create legal risk. Keep copies private.
- Arguing back online. Insults in reply are judged on their own terms under the same law.
- Cropping screenshots too tightly. A screenshot without the account name, link or date is much harder to rely on.
- Paying a blackmailer. Payment rarely ends the demands. Police guidance is not to send money under threat.
- Waiting to call the bank. Speed matters in fraud cases. Call your bank first, then file the police report.
- Deleting the conversation. Blocking is fine, but do not delete messages before you have saved them.
- Using unofficial "recovery" services. People who promise to recover lost money for a fee are a common follow-up scam. Use official channels only.
When to speak to a licensed lawyer
Many people can file a police report on their own. Legal advice becomes more useful when the matter is serious or goes further than a report.
Consider a licensed UAE lawyer if you have been summoned by police or the prosecution about something you posted, if you want to claim compensation for harm to your reputation or business, or if the other person is outside the UAE. The same applies if the content involves your employer, a child or intimate images, or if you are unsure whether your own posts could be seen as an offence.
A lawyer can review the evidence, explain which articles may apply and represent you before the prosecution or courts. CaseDaleel can introduce you to an independent licensed professional, but only if you choose that. You can start with the free case check, and our guide to your first meeting with a UAE lawyer explains what to bring.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a crime to insult someone on WhatsApp or social media in the UAE?
It can be. Article 43 of Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 covers insults and damaging attributions made through any information network or device, including messaging apps.
Can I share the defamatory post so others know the truth?
It is safer not to. Re-circulating content can spread the harm and may create legal risk for you, so keep copies private and give them to the police.
Which police channel should I use in Dubai?
Use the Dubai Police eCrime service at ecrime.ae or in the Dubai Police app. Its terms say the incident must have happened within Dubai, and it uses UAE Pass sign-in.
What if I live in Abu Dhabi or another emirate?
You can use the Ministry of Interior eCrimes platform in the MOI UAE app, Abu Dhabi Police's confidential Aman service, or your nearest police station.
Someone is blackmailing me with private photos. What should I do?
Do not pay or reply. Save the messages and the account details, then report confidentially to Aman in Abu Dhabi, eCrime in Dubai, or 999 if you feel unsafe.
I was scammed and money left my account. Who do I call first?
Call your bank first so it can try to stop or trace the payment. Then report to the police with the bank's reference number and your evidence.
Does TDRA handle cybercrime reports?
No. TDRA regulates telecoms and handles disputes with telecom providers after you have complained to the provider first. Criminal matters go to the police.
Is there a time limit for reporting defamation?
Report as soon as you can. The Criminal Procedure Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2022, Article 11) says a criminal case for insulting or defaming a person needs a complaint from the victim, and that a complaint is not accepted after three months from the day the victim learned of the crime and who committed it. The law does not say expressly how this applies to online offences under the cybercrime law, so check with the police or a licensed lawyer.
Can I get compensation from the person who defamed me?
A criminal report and a claim for compensation are different processes. Ask a licensed lawyer whether a civil claim is possible and worthwhile in your case.
Official sources
- UAE Government portal (u.ae) — Cyber safety and digital security
- UAE Legislation — Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 On Countering Rumors and Cybercrimes
- Dubai Police — Reporting E-Crime service
- Dubai Police eCrime Hub — Report a cybercrime (eCrime.ae)
- Abu Dhabi Police — Aman service contact
- UAE Legislation — Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2022 on the Criminal Procedure Law
General information, not legal advice. CaseDaleel is not a law firm.