Twenty-one individuals, including a 60-year-old British tourist, have been accused of cybercrimes in the United Arab Emirates for filming and sharing videos of Iranian missile and drone attacks, according to a legal assistance organization working with those detained in the country.
The British national was arrested in Dubai on Monday, March 10, 2026, under a law prohibiting the publication or sharing of images that could incite panic or spread rumors, Detained in Dubai reported.
Requests for comment from the Dubai government have been made and a response is pending.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office stated it is in contact with local authorities following the detention of the British citizen.
Detained in Dubai says the UAE is cracking down on individuals sharing videos of Iranian missile and drone attacks within its territory.
All those involved have been charged in the same complaint, Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said. Under UAE cybercrime laws, individuals can be accused of offenses for simply reposting or commenting on a video.
“A video can quickly lead to dozens of people facing criminal charges,” Detained in Dubai said in a statement. The situation highlights the UAE’s strict regulations regarding the dissemination of information, particularly during periods of regional conflict.
The British tourist, whose name has not been released, filmed a missile passing overhead but “immediately deleted” the footage when asked to do so by police, according to Stirling. He was subsequently arrested.
Prison Sentence and High Fine
The penalty for violating UAE cybercrime laws is a minimum of two years in prison, along with a fine of 200,000 UAE dirhams (approximately $54,450 USD). Stirling noted that multiple charges can be accumulated.
Stirling described the accusations against the British citizen as “very vague.”
Detained in Dubai states that individuals are allegedly accused of using an information network or information technology tool to transmit, publish, republish, or circulate false news, rumors, or provocative propaganda that could incite public opinion or disrupt public safety.
In a separate incident, Stirling said an Indian student at Dubai University was arrested after filming a missile attack over Palm Islands.
She said he shared the video with family in a chat group and remains in custody.
Two French citizens were also reportedly arrested for filming missiles at the start of the conflict, but were later released without charges, she added.
Requests for comment have been made to the French and Indian consulates in Dubai.
According to Detained in Dubai, plainclothes police have been arresting individuals caught filming missile attacks.
In an interview with British radio station LBC, the UAE Ambassador to the UK, Mansoor Abulhoul, said the “United Arab Emirates is very safe.”
He stated: “Guidelines and regulations exist in the UAE to ensure people’s safety” and that the UAE was discouraging people from filming to avoid being hit by “falling debris.”
On Friday, March 8, 2026, the UAE’s Public Prosecutor warned against circulating photos or videos showing the locations of attacks or inaccurate information that could cause panic.
Another government alert, circulated via email, text message, and public information announcements, stated: “Photographing or sharing locations that are security or critical, or reposting unreliable information, may result in legal action and compromise national security and stability. Compliance helps maintain the community safe and stable.”
A further alert urged people to “think before you share. Spreading rumors is a crime.”
In a post on X, the UK Embassy in the UAE said: “UAE authorities warn against photographing, posting, or sharing images of incident locations or damage caused by projectiles, as well as government buildings and diplomatic missions. British citizens are subject to UAE law, violations may lead to fines, imprisonment, or deportation.”
More than 1,800 drones and missiles have been launched against the UAE since the start of the war, the country’s Ministry of Defense said on X on Friday. Six people have been killed and 141 injured.
