Explained: When can UAE authorities publicly identify offenders?

Authorities in the UAE have been increasingly disclosing details of suspects and offenders in certain high-profile cases publicly — from terrorism-related investigations to crimes deemed harmful to social order — even as residents themselves can face prison terms and hefty fines for exposing or accusing others online. Abu Dhabi legal experts told media the distinction lies in who holds the legal authority to disclose such information.

Recent examples include the UAE’s announcement of arrests linked to an Iran-backed terrorist cell, as well as the case of an Emirati man sentenced to three years in prison and fined Dh500,000 after being convicted of promoting underage marriage online.

According to Hesham Elrafei, solicitor and legal expert in UAE laws, the Attorney General has the legal authority to decide how and when information about crimes is shared publicly. “The law gives the Attorney General the power to decide how and when to share information about crimes with the public,” Elrafei said, citing Article 7 of the Criminal Procedure Law.

He added that in some offences, including impersonating a public official, courts can order the offender’s name and judgment to be published in the media “at the criminal’s own expense” under Article 301 of the UAE Crimes and Penalties Law.

By contrast, residents exposing others online can themselves commit criminal offences under UAE law.

“Official announcements are made by the Attorney General to serve the public and keep things transparent,” Elrafei said. “Citizens cannot do this.”

An Abu Dhabi Judicial Department legal advisor who preferred not to be named said only judicial authorities can authorise the public disclosure of identities or case details.

“No government entity can announce these matters without authorisation from the judicial authorities,” he said. “If an ordinary person publishes someone’s information, photos or details without legal authority, this may amount to a crime.”

He explained that UAE law places strong emphasis on protecting individual rights, privacy and reputation.

“The law protects a person’s home, safety, freedom, reputation and personal life,” he said. “When someone exposes another person publicly without official authorisation, it can be considered defamation or a privacy violation.”

What if the information is true?

Under the UAE Cybercrime Law, residents can face prison terms and fines ranging from Dh250,000 to Dh500,000 for online insult or slander. Publishing photos, comments or information that violate another person’s privacy online can also carry prison sentences of at least six months and fines of up to Dh500,000.

The legal consequences can apply even if the shared information is true. “The law says publishing private news, photos or comments to harm someone is a crime ‘even if it is true’,” Elrafei said, citing Article 431 of the Crimes and Penalties Law and Article 44 of the Cybercrime Law.

He added that reposting or forwarding such content can create liability as well, as the Cybercrime Law penalises anyone who “publishes or republishes” illegal material.

The ADJD advisor said one of the biggest misconceptions among residents and newcomers is assuming UAE laws mirror rules in other countries.

“People think the same things they can do abroad can be done here,” he said. “For example, filming incidents in public and posting them online may be normal elsewhere, but the UAE has specific regulations governing photography, social media use and privacy.”

Both experts said authorities generally disclose details in major cases for public-interest reasons, including deterrence, transparency, national security and maintaining public order.

Past instances

The UAE has previously publicly warned that certain violators could be identified as part of deterrence campaigns in exceptional circumstances.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the UAE Public Prosecution published the names, initials and photographs of residents accused of violating precautionary measures, including breaching curfew restrictions, attending gatherings and private parties, travelling during movement restrictions, and failing to wear masks in vehicles. In one 2020 case, 13 violators were publicly identified after being fined between Dh2,000 and Dh10,000 for various breaches of Covid-19 safety rules. Officials said the move was intended to discourage others from violating public-health regulations.

Dubai Police also announced during the pandemic that residents caught mocking or violating the country’s “stay home, stay safe” campaign online could be publicly identified “for the first time” alongside other penalties. At the time, Colonel Saeed Al Hajeri, Director of the CID’s Cybercrime Department at Dubai Police, said authorities had already started arresting and fining people for activity online and warned that offenders could have their names, photos and nationalities disclosed through official media channels.

“The Attorney General uses this authority when it benefits the public,” Elrafei explained. “This is mainly done to warn the community, stop others from committing similar crimes, and protect national security and public order.”

Broader deterrence strategy

Legal experts also say the UAE has in recent years moved towards greater transparency and more visible enforcement in certain public-interest and online misconduct cases, though within what they described as a tightly controlled legal framework.

Ibtissem Lassoud, head of white collar crime at Al Tamimi & Company, said this should not be viewed as “indiscriminate public exposure”, but rather as part of a broader deterrence and compliance strategy.

She pointed to the National Media Office’s 2025 announcement referring a group of social media users to the Federal Public Prosecution over alleged breaches of media content standards, as well as the implementation of the UAE’s Media Regulation Law, which expanded regulatory oversight to influencers, content creators and social media users.

“This reflects a more confident and transparent approach to law enforcement communications within the established legal framework,” Lassoud said.

The ADJD advisor added that the law itself is intended not only to punish wrongdoing, but also to prevent it.

“The law is there to create stability, reassurance and order,” he said. “If violations happen without accountability, others may repeat the same behaviour.”

Protecting the vulnerable

However, UAE law also contains safeguards protecting vulnerable groups. Elrafei noted that publishing the identities or images of juvenile offenders, victims of sexual crimes, or individuals granted suspended sentences is prohibited under specific provisions of the law.

Both legal experts stressed that residents who witness crimes or dangerous behaviour should report incidents directly to authorities instead of posting content online. “If you see wrongdoing, the correct legal approach is to report it to the police or Public Prosecution,” Elrafei said.

Residents can still document incidents and provide evidence privately to authorities when public safety is at risk. “If someone is committing dangerous behaviour, you can report it to the police and share the footage directly with them,” said the second expert. “That is very different from publishing it publicly on social media.”