Major action has been taken against those spreading fake news regarding Iran and regional tensions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the official report till March 18, 2026, a total of 35 people have been arrested. The largest number in this are Indian immigrants. The total arrested include 19 Indian nationals who will be tried in a fast-track court.
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For what reasons were the migrants arrested?
UAE Attorney General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said that the accused have been divided into three parts on the basis of their social media activity. These people spread rumors on social media in different ways.
Tampering with original video: Some people tried to spread panic among the people by inserting the sound of sirens and explosions in the real video of the missile being stopped.
AI video making: Some accused used Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create fake videos of attacks and fires at famous places in UAE. An attempt was made to make them appear genuine by putting flags and dates on them.
Enemy’s praise: Such people have also been caught who justified the actions of the enemy on social media and posted in their praise which harmed the national interests.
What is the punishment for spreading fake news?
This action is being taken under the law (Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021) made to stop rumors and cyber crimes in UAE. Under this law, there is a provision for strict punishment and heavy fine if the crime is proven.
According to the rules, a minimum of 1 year in jail and a fine of 100,000 dirhams (about Rs 22.6 lakh) will have to be paid. During the current crisis, this punishment can increase to 2 years in prison and 200,000 dirhams. Fast-track trial has been ordered against all the 35 arrested people so that they can be punished quickly.
Indian Embassy issued strict warning
After the continuous arrest of Indians, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Consulate have issued advisories. In this, all the migrants have been warned to know the truth before sharing any video or news. The Embassy has clearly stated that liking, commenting or ‘re-sharing’ any fake video will also be considered a crime under UAE law. All citizens have been advised to rely only on information received from government handles.