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Ajman Police confirmed that officers stopped the woman during immigration procedures at a UAE airport as she arrived back in the country with her family. The deputy director of strategy and performance development at Ajman Police said authorities identified her as the subject of an outstanding legal complaint filed in the emirate. She spent one night in custody before transfer to Ajman for processing related to the social media matter.
The complaint arose after the woman commented on an Instagram photograph of another woman holding a luxury handbag. She stated that the bag was fake, and the observation triggered widespread ridicule and mocking that targeted the owner. The handbag owner then lodged a formal complaint accusing the commenter of reputational harm and online bullying.
According to the UAE government’s official platform, Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumours and Cybercrimes took effect on January 2, 2022. The legislation establishes a framework to address misuse of online technologies, including dissemination of false or misleading information that harms personal rights or public order. It applies to cases involving social media posts that lead to reputational damage or bullying.
A Khaleej Times review published in May 2026 found that penalties under the law commonly include fines ranging from 250,000 to 500,000 dirhams along with potential imprisonment depending on severity. Deutsche Welle reported in March 2026 that 21 individuals including a British tourist faced charges under the same statute for posting misleading war-related videos on social media. Dubai Police separately blocked 103 fraudulent accounts during the second quarter of 2026 as part of ongoing cybercrime enforcement.
Authorities facilitated an amicable reconciliation between the two women after the detention. The settlement resulted in closure of the case without further legal proceedings. The outcome followed standard procedures for resolving such complaints through dialogue rather than prosecution.
The incident adds to documented applications of the 2021 law in handling everyday social media interactions that escalate into formal disputes. Public Authority for Cyber Security data has shown consistent pursuit of complaints involving online defamation across multiple emirates in recent years. Ajman Police have continued to stress the need for caution in digital communications to avoid similar encounters.
