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Last week, I spoke to the BBC about a case that, to those of us who work in this area, is troubling but not surprising. A British tourist has been charged under UAE cybercrime legislation after filming what appeared to be Iranian missiles over Dubai. He is not alone. Dozens — possibly hundreds — of people face similar charges, arrested for doing something that would raise no eyebrows whatsoever in the United Kingdom.
This is worth pausing on. A tourist looks up at the sky, sees something extraordinary and alarming, and reaches for their phone. It is an instinctive human response. In the UAE, it can result in a criminal charge, a conviction, and potentially two years in prison.
The law is framed as a national security measure, designed to prevent publication of material that could disturb public order. But the breadth of its application against foreign nationals raises serious concerns that go well beyond the specific facts of this case.
My experience of representing individuals prosecuted in Dubai leads me to a straightforward conclusion: if you are charged under a UAE cybercrime or national security law, conviction is virtually inevitable. The system is not constructed around the principles of fair trial that would be recognisable to a British lawyer. Rule of law bends to other pressures. That is the reality on the ground.
The UAE invests heavily in its image as a safe, cosmopolitan destination, and the machinery of its legal system — including cybercrime laws that are broad and vaguely worded — operates quietly in the background. The arrests following the missile incidents have drawn unusual attention to that machinery. These are not new laws, and this is not a new pattern.
What You Should Know
Foreign nationals travelling to or transiting through the UAE should be under no illusions. The legal protections they take for granted at home do not follow them there.
Do not film or photograph anything that could be characterised as security-sensitive — military installations, government buildings, police operations, or unusual aerial activity. The threshold for what constitutes a threat to public security is far lower than most visitors would expect.
Exercise caution on social media. Sharing content that touches on UAE government policy or regional conflict — even content originally published elsewhere — can attract scrutiny. Posts made outside the UAE have resulted in prosecutions of individuals who later travelled there.
If you are arrested, do not speak to authorities without legal advice. Request consular assistance immediately and contact a specialist lawyer without delay. Organisations such as Detained in Dubai can also provide support. Act quickly — the early stages of detention are critical.
The UAE’s broadly drafted laws, limited procedural protections, and pattern of enforcement against ordinary foreign nationals make it a jurisdiction that demands particular care. Understanding the risks is the first step to avoiding them.
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Image: Nick Falcon via Unsplash
