UAE Arrests 21 People for Posting Missile Footage

UAE Tightens Grip on Social Media After Iran Missile Attacks

The United Arab Emirates has taken a hard line against social media posts that show missile and drone attacks coming from Iran. Twenty-one individuals, including a 60‑year‑old tourist from Britain, were charged under the country’s cybercrime rules.

The British man was taken into custody in Dubai after he filmed a missile streaking across the sky. Police asked him to delete the clip, but he did not comply and was arrested on Monday.

The UAE’s law says that sharing or even commenting on videos that could stir panic or spread rumors is illegal. A single video can lead to dozens of people facing charges, according to a legal aid group that tracks arrests in the region.

Punishments for violating these rules can be severe: a minimum of two years in prison and a fine of about $54,000. The charges against the British tourist are described as vague, and multiple counts can be stacked on a single person.

Other cases include an Indian student at Dubai University who was detained after filming a missile strike on the Palm Islands and sending the footage to his family group chat. Two French nationals were also arrested for filming missiles earlier, but they were later released without charges.

Police officers in plain clothes have been actively searching for people who record the attacks, and officials warn that photographing or sharing images of attack sites can threaten national security. The UAE’s Attorney General issued a public warning last week, urging citizens to think before sharing any content that could cause panic.

The UK Embassy in the UAE reminded its nationals that they are subject to local laws, and violations can lead to fines, imprisonment or deportation.