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The Federal Supreme Court overturned a lower court’s conviction of a consumer who discovered insects in a supermarket product, filmed the issue and forwarded the video to relevant authorities. Gulf News reported that the Court of First Instance had initially acquitted the man, yet the Court of Appeal imposed a 3,000-dirham fine and ordered confiscation of the phone used to record. The supreme court found no proof that the consumer intended to harm the supermarket’s reputation, determining instead that he believed he had identified a violation warranting an official report.
In its judgment issued on September 30, the Federal Supreme Court focused on the purpose behind the recording rather than the filming itself. The court held that merely capturing video does not establish a criminal offense, requiring prosecutors to demonstrate bad faith or deliberate intent to damage another’s standing. This clarification distinguishes legitimate evidence gathering for complaints from actions aimed at defamation.
Legal consultant Mohammed Ali Al Hammadi told Gulf News that the ruling confirms an important principle for consumer rights. “The importance of this judgment lies in the principle established by the Federal Supreme Court. It confirms that consumers have the right to document violations they observe and report them to the competent authorities, provided this is done in good faith and within the limits necessary for filing a complaint.” Al Hammadi added that such documentation must remain confined to what is needed for the complaint process.
The decision aligns with Article 44 of Federal Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumors and Cybercrimes, which prohibits using information technology to violate privacy through unauthorized images or videos. A related review by Gulf Press outlined how Article 431 of the Federal Penal Code No. 31 of 2021 protects personal and family privacy against unconsented recording or sharing. Both statutes, according to the analysis, place significant weight on whether the act involves harmful intent.
A contrasting case reported by Gulf News in November 2025 saw a man ordered to pay 40,000 dirhams in compensation after secretly filming a family in an Al Ain cafe and posting the images online. The civil court determined that the actions caused psychological harm, embarrassment and reputational damage, building on an earlier criminal conviction for privacy violation. That matter illustrates the legal consequences when filming lacks a good-faith reporting purpose and instead invades personal boundaries.
Consumer reporting of retail violations has become more common in the UAE in recent years, with authorities relying on submitted evidence to enforce standards. The Federal Supreme Court’s stance, as conveyed through the judgment, supports such submissions when they stem from genuine concern rather than malice. The precedent now guides lower courts in evaluating similar disputes across the federation.
