Sharing footage of attacks can lead to a prison term, hefty fines or deportation under the Gulf state’s laws.
Police in the UAE’s Abi Dhabi emirate have said that they have arrested 45 people of various nationalities for sharing videos of Iranian missile and drone strikes on the country.
Iran has extensively targeted American bases and other assets in the Gulf States since being attacked by the US and Israel in late February. Tehran says it feels “no hostility” towards its Arab neighbors, but insists that Washington’s facilities are “legitimate targets.”
The publication of videos of Iranian attacks could provoke public concern and lead to the spreading of rumors within the community, the police said on Saturday. Legal and administrative measures have been taken against those responsible, it added.
On Thursday, Detained in Dubai consultancy reported that 21 people, including a 60-year-old British national, have been charged in the UAE under the country’s cybercrime laws for filming the strikes.
Under the UAE’s laws, they could face up to two years in prison and fines ranging from around $5,500 to $54,500; foreigners risk deportation.
“The charges sound extremely vague, but serious on paper. In reality, the alleged conduct could be something as simple as sharing or commenting on a video that is already circulating online,” Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said.
She warned that “foreigners need to understand that what may seem like normal social media behavior elsewhere can lead to arrest in the UAE.”
On Monday, Qatar said that it had detained more than 300 people for filming Iranian strikes. A few days later, Bahrain announced the detention of six individuals on similar charges. The monarchy’s interior ministry urged the public “to refrain from circulating or re-posting unreliable videos or news to avoid legal accountability.”
“If governments [in the Gulf] begin arresting expatriates for sharing or discussing news during a conflict, it risks undermining the image they have tried to build as safe, modern international hubs,” Stirling stressed.
Israel has also stepped up censorship during the conflict, which it initiated together with Washington, forbidding live broadcasts showing city skylines during Iranian missile attacks, images identifying locations of strikes, and other content deemed to be a security threat.
Image credit: David Rodrigo
https://youtu.be/PGPQeeUBK8U?si=RzfOiAYNfmOvCOXg
Col. larry Wilerson/ Nima
https://youtu.be/2vNuU0Q5wZ4?si=V1yV76kAa5EWHKTg
scott ritter
The UAE desperately needs to censor media and stop people from videoing what’s actually happening because the UAE is playing a dirty double game. The UAE is the forward-launching pad for American terrorism against Iran.
Civilians in the UAE are human shields for these American terrorists. Terrorist Trump launched his attacks against Kharg Island from the UAE while hiding behind human shields http://www.tasnimnews.ir/en/news/2026/03/14/3540532/iran-threatens-to-target-enemy-missile-launch-sites-in-uae
Forbidden from filming / sharing…kinda like Jabby banning a fake video that only the NZ Loyal Party had the guts to research anf went to Thailand with a forensic video expert to view the video proving that the footage was staged, thus deflecting attention away from the Mossad Op of the Chch Mosque murders!
Penalising people and parties for exposing the truth by the government(s) prove conclusively that these are criminal elements in the government(s) themselves.
Last night I watched smuggled footage taken inside evil Tel-Aviv showing the Iranian hypersonic missiles tearing the hell out of that place, and rightfully so!
Look for the BRIC Nations and their Allies to give the U.S. and Israel an ultimatum before this Friday, that being ‘cease & desist’ or the entire world will declare war on the U.S. and it’s controlling minion, Israel for attacking global oil assets!!!!!
NONE of the countries in the Middle East can be trusted, as they are all self-serving unto themselves, and they do not care who they deal with, as long as they get paid foreign aid, oil revenues, and wallow in the patronage that the West bestows on them!
Ah yep, the usual stupid government censorship/narrative management routine.
How predictable, boring and tiresome.
The channel “ro’ya” on youtube is showing footage of Iranian missile strikes on Israel and the aftermath.
Can translate the page from persian to english to see comments, but I can’t understand the commentary on the videos.
Don’t look good for Israel. They can’t hide their folly for long though. Will only be a matter of time till Israeli’s don’t give a shit about getting in trouble
That channel is an awesome find. Thank you.
UAE is nothing more than a tax haven for the super rich, shady business people and dodgy dictators, Singapore is very similar. Unsurprisingly they don’t want their co conspirator the US’s bases exposed on social media and worse still footage of them being damaged. Can’t have that, now can we? SO lets trot out some UK/Australia style authoritarian censorship to criminalise free speech and freedom of expression/press.