UAE enacts new media laws: What you need to know

Time of India

04-06-2025

Image: X/ UAEGOV
A wide-reaching new media law has officially come into force across the United Arab Emirates as of May 29, 2025, bringing with it a detailed framework for media regulation and enforcement.
The law, announced by the UAE Media Council, targets violations across traditional and digital platforms with fines that can reach up to Dh1 million, and even Dh2 million for repeat offences.
This move strengthens the UAE's focus on accountability, respect, and professionalism in media, with updated licensing rules, strict content standards, and clarified consequences for misinformation, religious or moral violations, and threats to national security.
Major Offences and Corresponding Penalties
The law breaks down violations into several categories, each with clearly defined penalties scaled by severity and recurrence:
1. Religious and moral violations
Insulting religious beliefs or the divine being: Up to Dh1,000,000
Violating public morals or promoting destructive ideologies: Up to Dh100,000
Content inciting crimes such as murder, rape, or drug abuse: Up to Dh150,000
2. Offences against the state and national security
Disrespecting national symbols, the system of governance, or state institutions: Dh50,000 to Dh500,000
Offending domestic or foreign policy: Dh50,000 to Dh500,000
Undermining foreign relations or social cohesion: Up to Dh250,000
3. Licensing violations
Operating without a licence:
First offence: Dh10,000
Repeated offence: Dh40,000
Failure to renew a licence within 30 days: Dh150 per day, up to Dh3,000
Transferring a licence or making unauthorised changes: Up to Dh20,000
Publishing with an expired licence:
First offence: Dh10,000
Repeated offence: Dh20,000, doubled with each recurrence
4. Misinformation and publishing offences
Disseminating false information:
First offence: Dh5,000
Repeated offence: Dh10,000
Organising or obstructing a book fair without a permit: Dh40,000 (doubles with recurrence)
Printing or publishing media materials without a licence: Dh20,000 (doubles with recurrence)
5. Foreign Correspondents
Unlicensed operations: Up to 3 written warnings
Repeated offence: Dh10,000
In serious or repeated cases, the law allows temporary closure for up to six months, permanent shutdown, or revocation of licences or permits.
20 binding media content standards
To ensure clarity and consistency, the UAE Media Council issued 20 mandatory content standards for all media entities and professionals.
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These are designed to protect national interests, societal values, and individual rights, and are derived from Federal Media Law No. 55 of 2023 and its executive regulations.
The 20 Standards Are:
Respect for the divine, Islamic beliefs, other Abrahamic religions, and all faiths, no offence permitted.
Respect for the UAE's system of governance, national symbols, institutions, and the supreme interests of the state.
Respect for domestic and foreign policies of the UAE.
No content that damages the UAE's foreign relations.
Preserve cultural heritage and national identity.
No content that undermines national unity or social cohesion.
Prohibition of sectarian, tribal, or regional incitement; no promotion of violence, hate speech, or terrorism.
Adherence to societal moral values and protection of public interest.
No content that discredits the legal, economic, judicial, or security systems.
Respect for individual privacy and private life.
Strict ban on inciting or promoting criminal acts, including murder, rape, or drug use.
No offensive images, language, or illustrations that violate public decency or harm children/youth.
Ban on false news or forged documents falsely attributed to individuals or entities.
No content that harms the national currency or undermines the country's economic reputation.
No spreading of rumours or disinformation.
Ban on glorifying or promoting hostile political, racial, ideological, or social groups.
Media programmes must carefully select guests and participants to uphold public policy and professionalism.
Advertising must respect the UAE's culture, identity, and values.
Adherence to age classifications as approved by the Media Council.
Full compliance with child protection laws and national legislation concerning minors.
Advertising and media programme guidelines
The Council stressed that advertising content must align with the UAE's national values, respect cultural sensitivities, and strictly follow age rating classifications. Advertisers and media producers are expected to safeguard child rights, ensuring no harmful messaging is directed at young audiences.
Failure to comply with these advertising and programming standards can result in:
Official warnings
Fines up to Dh1 million
Doubled penalties for repeated violations within a year (Not exceeding Dh2 million)
Temporary closures (up to six months)
Permanent shutdowns and licence revocations, depending on severity
Law's broader purpose
The new media law is part of the UAE's ongoing effort to align domestic media regulations with international standards. It is designed not just to penalise, but also to protect—ensuring a safe, respectful, and responsible media environment for professionals, influencers, and the public alike.
It marks a firm step toward professionalising the media sector, protecting public values, and ensuring that information shared in the UAE remains accurate, respectful, and nationally coherent.