Tourists, expats and influencers detained in UAE over digital content showing impacts of Iran war, activist says

A growing number of social media users, including foreigners, face charges in the United Arab Emirates under the Gulf state’s sweeping cybercrime laws for sharing or possessing digital content that depicts or comments on the impact of the current Iranian attackswarned the advocacy group Detained in Dubai.

The arrests highlight strict regulations on online content in the United Arab Emirates, which have expressly prohibited anyone from taking or sharing images showing hits by Iranian drones or missiles or efforts to intercept the weapons.

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai and Due Process International, and an expert on legal and extradition issues in the Gulf region, warned in a social media post that even minor posts, comments, photos and opinions can lead to detention in the UAE, “even if they were made outside the UAE.”

Stirling said that as of Thursday 21 people were facing charges under the UAE’s cybercrime laws, including a 60-year-old British tourist who deleted his video immediately when asked by authorities but was still charged.

An influencer with 300,000 views was just told to delete a video and post a correction, Stirling said, highlighting what she called “an interesting contrast” as other people filming the same street events were apparently arrested.

“Celebrities have long been granted protected status in the UAE,” he said.

A Filipino maid was detained near the Burj Al Arab tower after taking a photo while waiting for work, Stirling said, giving another example. Officers reportedly searched her phone, found a picture, and arrested her.

And a Vietnamese cargo ship sailor was detained in Fujairah after allegedly sharing a video of missile activity he filmed while outside UAE territory. He was brought ashore by the coast guard and was still detained Thursday, Stirling said.

The United Arab Emirates is among the Gulf Arab countries that have faced retaliation from Iran since the United States and Israel launched a campaign against it in late February.

The country’s Defense Ministry said on Friday that the Gulf state’s air defenses were “currently dealing with incoming missile and drone attacks from Iran.” He said in a social media post that “the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, as well as fighter jets intercepting loitering drones and munitions.”