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Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 Regulating the Media sets binding standards that all social media posts and digital content in the UAE must meet, according to official legislation published on uaelegislation.gov.ae. The rules require absolute respect for the Divine Entity, Islamic beliefs and other religions while barring any content that insults or abuses these beliefs. They further demand respect for the state’s governance system, national symbols, institutions and foreign relations, with a prohibition on material that could incite violence, hatred, discord or undermine national unity.
A Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2025 details specific administrative penalties for breaches of these media standards, the legislation shows. Disrespecting religious beliefs or the state can result in fines between Dh100,000 and Dh1 million while inciting violence, hatred or discord carries penalties from Dh100,000 to Dh500,000. Publishing fake news, offensive content or violating privacy may attract fines up to Dh100,000, with breaches involving children’s rights or age-classification rules capped at Dh50,000, and all fines can double for repeat violations within the stipulated period up to a maximum of Dh2 million.
Article 23 of the 2023 decree grants authorities a range of enforcement tools beyond fines, according to a report published by The National on August 25, 2026. These include warnings, temporary administrative closure of up to six months, suspension or cancellation of licences and permits, or requirements to remedy any harm caused. The penalties apply to individuals, influencers, media entities and platforms operating in or targeting the UAE, including those in free zones, and do not preclude additional criminal liability under the Cybercrimes Law or anti-discrimination statutes.
Natural persons providing advertising or media content on social media must obtain a permit from the UAE Media Council even if no compensation is involved, the Cabinet Resolution of 2025 states. Operating without such a permit triggers an initial written warning followed by fines of Dh20,000 on a second offence and Dh50,000 thereafter, with the amount doubled for further repeats. Continuing to post after permit expiry starts at Dh10,000 and rises to Dh20,000, again subject to doubling on subsequent violations within one year.
The framework intersects with the Federal Decree-Law on Child Digital Safety issued in late 2025 and the Cabinet Resolution No. 106 of 2026 that established a minimum age of 15 for creating or using social media accounts, Reuters reported on June 18, 2026. Platforms must deploy robust age-verification technologies that reject self-declaration, apply enhanced safeguards for users aged 15 and 16, and face potential blocking or other administrative measures for non-compliance. Internet service providers are separately required to activate content filtering to block harmful material directed at children.
Legal experts have noted that sharing or reposting prohibited content exposes users to the same liability as original posters, according to analysis carried by Khaleej Times in May 2026. The UAE Media Council maintains a dedicated committee to review violations and impose graduated sanctions, with appeals possible through specified grievance mechanisms. Authorities continue to publish guidance on their official portals to help residents and content creators understand the boundaries before posting.
