20 rules, up to Dh1m penalty: What you need to know about UAE’s new media law
New protections introduced for influencers and licensed media professionals
ABU DHABI: The UAE’s updated media law came into effect on May 29, 2025, setting out a far-reaching framework for regulating media activities across the country. With fines that can climb to Dh1 million, the law applies to both traditional and digital content creators, including influencers, publishers, broadcasters, and foreign correspondents.
The legislation was enacted under Federal Media Law No. 55 of 2023, with executive regulations introduced to ensure a unified, ethical, and responsible media environment. It addresses critical areas such as religious sensitivity, misinformation, national security, licensing requirements, advertising practices, and protection of minors.
The UAE Media Council will be the key body overseeing compliance, enforcement, and licensing across all media outlets.
Religious & Moral
The law includes some of the highest penalties for offences involving religion, public morals, and incitement to crime.
- Insulting religious beliefs or the divine being: Fine of up to Dh1,000,000
- Violating public morals or promoting destructive ideologies: Up to Dh100,000
- Publishing content inciting serious crimes such as murder, rape, or drug abuse: Fine up to Dh150,000
Offensive language, illustrations, or publications that harm children or promote harmful ideologies are also strictly prohibited. Such material may trigger additional sanctions.
National interests
UAE’s media law imposes heavy fines for actions perceived to harm the state, its reputation, or social unity.
- Disrespecting national symbols, the system of governance, or state institutions: Dh50,000–Dh500,000
- Offending domestic or foreign policy: Dh50,000–Dh500,000
- Harming foreign relations or damaging social cohesion: Up to Dh250,000
Any content perceived to compromise national security or social harmony, including the promotion of hate, terrorism, or sectarian incitement, will attract serious financial and legal consequences.
Licences & Publishing
The law mandates strict licensing protocols for all media activities. Penalties are structured based on severity and repetition.
Operating without a licence:
- First offence: Dh10,000
- Repeated offence: Dh40,000
Failure to renew licence within 30 days of expiry:
- Dh150 per day, up to Dh3,000
Unauthorised licence transfer or changes:
- Fine of up to Dh20,000
Publishing with an expired licence:
- First offence: Dh10,000
- Repeated offence: Dh20,000 (doubles with repetition)
Printing or publishing without any valid licence:
- Dh20,000, and doubles on recurrence
Misinformation & unauthorised activity
The UAE Media Council has made misinformation a punishable offence under the law, with escalating fines for repeat offenders.
Spreading false news or misinformation:
- First offence: Dh5,000
- Repeated offence: Dh10,000
Organising or obstructing book fairs without prior permission:
- Dh40,000, doubles on repetition
Foreign correspondents working without proper UAE accreditation:
- Up to three written warnings
- On repetition: Dh10,000
Content standards: The 20 rules
To support this legal overhaul, the UAE Media Council issued 20 mandatory content standards, which apply to all media institutions and professionals. These include:
- Respect for the divine, Islamic values, and all Abrahamic religions
- No offence against the UAE’s political system, leaders, or institutions
- Full alignment with domestic and international policies
- No content harming the UAE’s foreign relations or global image
- Protection of the country’s heritage and national identity
- No sectarian, tribal, or regional incitement
- Ban on hate speech, terrorism advocacy, or violence promotion
- Respect for public morals and the public interest
- No undermining of judiciary, legal, economic, or security systems
- Respect for individual privacy and private life
- No promotion of criminal acts like murder, rape, or drug use
- Prohibition of obscene, violent, or indecent content
- Ban on false news or forged content attributed to individuals/entities
- No defamation of the national currency or economic standing
- No rumours or misleading information
- No glorification of hostile political, racial, or ideological groups
- Responsible selection of interviewees and programme guests
- Advertising must align with the country’s identity and public values
- Compliance with age-appropriate media classification
- Protection of child rights as defined under UAE law
Enforcement & sanctions
Violations of the above standards may attract significant financial and operational penalties, including:
- Fines of up to Dh1 million, doubling to Dh2 million for repeated violations within one year
- Temporary closure of operations (up to 6 months)
- Permanent shutdown or cancellation of media licences
The level of punishment depends on the gravity of the violation and its impact on public and national interests. Media outlets found repeatedly in breach may lose their operating rights altogether.
The law also protects journalists, influencers, and media workers operating under proper licences, signalling a clear intent to balance press freedom with responsibility.
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