
New UAE media law: Fines of up to Dh1 million for insulting religious beliefs
The legislation reinforces the UAE's commitment to promoting ethical, respectful, and responsible media conduct. It outlines a series of offenses, many of which come with tiered fines depending on the severity or repetition of the violation.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
8 minutes ago
- The National
UAE welcomes Trump's AI Action Plan, ambassador Al Otaiba says
The UAE's ambassador to the US commended the AI Action Plan unveiled by the Trump White House on Wednesday. Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba applauded the much-anticipated artificial intelligence plan just hours after several executive orders related to the three-pillared AI strategy were signed by President Donald Trump. 'The UAE welcomes President Trump's AI Action Plan and is ready to fast track our strategic AI partnership with the US, first announced during [President Trump's] May visit to Abu Dhabi,' Mr Al Otaiba posted on social media. 'As a trusted partner, we are working closely with leading US companies to adopt and scale American technology in the UAE and beyond,' he added, referring to the 5GW UAE-US AI Campus announced in May. The UAE ambassador also reflected on the country's commitment to a $1.4 trillion investment framework in the US related to artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductors, energy and manufacturing. 'We are collaboratively setting a new 'Gold Standard' for securing AI models, chips, data and access – delivering lasting benefits for both our nations and the world,' he wrote. A week ago in Pennsylvania at an energy conference, White House cryptocurrency and AI adviser David Sacks also boasted about the UAE's commitment to work with the US. 'I know that our Gulf state partners will honour our security agreement,' Mr Sacks said, talking about US confidence that American-made technology would be protected in the UAE and wouldn't be diverted to potentially adversarial countries. In recent years, the UAE − the Arab world's second-biggest economy − has pursued becoming an AI front-runner, as it seeks to diversify its economy from oil. The country's efforts have resulted in the establishment of start-ups, partnerships and investments from industry leaders like Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI, to name a few. Through the creation of language models such as Falcon Arabic, the UAE has also sought to ensure aspects of Arabic culture are not left behind in the AI surge, with many large language models based on English-language data. In 2019, the UAE announced the establishment of a university dedicated to AI, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.


Al Etihad
3 hours ago
- Al Etihad
AI-powered governance positions UAE as global leader in digital transformation
24 July 2025 00:15 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)As the UAE accelerates its adoption of artificial intelligence, citizens and residents are poised to benefit from forward-looking, people-centric policies and services, positioning the nation as a global model for digital innovation, experts say. Earlier this month, the UAE Government launched a new federal strategic planning cycle as part of its ambitious 'We the UAE 2031' vision, marking a shift toward a more agile, AI-powered, and resource-optimised approach to governance. This new framework shortens the government's strategy cycle to a three-year timeframe, aiming to deliver faster, smarter, and more impactful public services. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, directed all ministries and federal government bodies to develop strategies rooted in innovation, flexibility, and advanced technology to ensure the goals outlined in 'We the UAE 2031' are achieved with greater speed and efficiency. The UAE's holistic strategy - balancing foresight with innovation, regulation, and collaboration - provides a valuable blueprint for other countries to accelerate digital transformation, Jad Haddad, Partner and the Global Head of Quotient – AI by Oliver Wyman, told Aletihad . Haddad leads regional advisory work on public sector transformation and AI strategy and has supported national-level clients across the GCC on planning models, data-driven governance, and workforce modernisation. 'The UAE's approach to data-driven governance stands out for its strong leadership commitment, integrated data infrastructure, and balanced regulatory framework emphasising ethics and privacy,' he said. 'By fostering public-private partnerships and focusing on citizen-centric services, the UAE accelerates AI adoption while ensuring tangible benefits for residents.'AI is positioned as a core pillar of governance under the new planning cycle. According to Haddad, this will transform federal services by enabling data-driven decision-making, personalised public experiences, and enhanced inter-agency collaboration. 'AI and predictive models enable the UAE to optimise government spending and human capital by forecasting budget needs, preventing inefficiencies, and automating routine tasks,' he added.'This enhances workforce planning, talent matching, and performance monitoring, driving resource efficiency and supporting sustainable, agile, and citizen-focused governance.'Haddad also pointed out that agile governance at the federal level prioritises citizen engagement, adaptive regulations, and rapid responsiveness, ultimately 'transforming the government into a flexible, efficient system that delivers timely, inclusive solutions nationwide'. Upskilling for the Future Lisa Lyons, Regional Transformation Centre of Excellence Lead, Mercer – IMEA, noted that success depends on how effectively the UAE nurtures and deploys future-ready skills. 'Equipping talent with AI skills is the linchpin in transforming ambition into sustainable leadership,' she told Aletihad . Lyons pointed to the recent partnership between the Dubai Government Human Resources Department (DGHR) and Dubai AI Campus to train over 10,000 individuals in the field of AI by 2030 as a strong example of the UAE's commitment to prioritising AI skills Abu Dhabi Government Digital Strategy 2025-2027, led by the Department of Government Enablement, includes an AI for All initiative designed to empower citizens with AI capabilities. Backed by a Dh13 billion investment, the strategy aims to build a fully AI-native government by digitising services, automating operations, and deploying over 200 AI solutions across federal entities. 'The biggest opportunity is for organisations to invest in the development of critical AI skills to enhance long-term productivity and differentiate the organisational employee value proposition when bidding for talent. Investing in critical AI skills is how we turn AI from a tool into a true catalyst for growth,' Lyons said. The UAE's focus on AI is fostering a culture of continuous learning and workforce transformation within the public sector, said Saqr AlMaazmi, Head of Government and Public Sector Consulting, Mercer UAE. 'As government employees upskill to work alongside advanced technologies, the delivery of services will become more proactive and people-focused. This strategic push not only enhances efficiency and innovation but further positions the UAE as a leader in smart governance and digital transformation,' he told Aletihad .


The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Syria bloodshed gives US legislators pause over sanctions relief
Recent violence in Syria is fuelling a debate in the US Congress about whether Washington should end all sanctions against Damascus, a move pushed by President Donald Trump, or take a more incremental approach. Mr Trump has embraced President Ahmad Al Shara since his rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, until recently designated a foreign terrorist organisation, ousted former president Bashar Al Assad in December. Mr Trump last month ordered the lifting of sanctions against Syria. Many of these can be repealed through his executive powers, but eliminating them all would need Congress to repeal the 2019 Caesar Act. Syria has been gripped by violent clashes in Sweida in the south of the country, where forces loyal to Mr Shara's government have been accused of siding with the Bedouin to kill members of the Druze community. After a ceasefire that followed strikes by Israel, the Druze were accused of rekindling the fighting with new attacks. Among those killed was Hosam Saraya, an American of Syrian Druze descent, whose killing at the hands of gunmen was shown on social media. Given the instability, some lawmakers are pushing for a conditions-based lifting of sanctions. Republican Representative Mike Lawler last week introduced a bill that would amend the Caesar Act to allow it to be waived only if the Syrian government is not targeting civilians, among other provisions. 'The Al Shara Administration certainly has a lot of work to do to reintegrate Syria with the US and our allies,' said Mr Lawler, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Financial Services Committee. 'While this job should be difficult given the circumstances, it shouldn't be impossible.' But fellow Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, who also sits on the Middle East panel, wants a clean, unconditional repeal of the Caesar Act, saying that is in line with President Trump's agenda for Syria. 'I hope that the Financial Services Committee reconsiders this measure and takes more time to study and work on Syria sanctions. A clean repeal of the Caesar Act promotes stability,' he wrote on X. Representative Maxine Waters, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee, agrees with Mr Wilson's approach. She has introduced an amendment that would fully repeal the Caesar Act. The Syrian Emergency Task Force, which works to help build democracy in Syria and played a significant role in nudging the Trump administration to scrap sanctions, urged legislators to vote against Mr Lawler's bill. 'This bill undermines President Trump's new Syria policy and extends damaging sanctions until 2028 – sanctions meant for Assad, not the Syrian people,' the SETF said in a statement.