UAE Charges 21, Including British Tourist, Under Cybercrime Laws Over Missile Strike Videos

The United Arab Emirates has charged 21 individuals, including a 60-year-old British tourist, under the country’s cybercrime legislation for allegedly recording and sharing videos of missile and drone strikes attributed to Iran, according to a legal advocacy group assisting the detainees.

Detained in Dubai, the organisation providing support, disclosed that the British national was apprehended in Dubai on Monday for allegedly violating regulations that prohibit the dissemination of images or information capable of sparking panic or spreading rumours during security incidents.

In response to the development, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed that British authorities are engaging with Emirati officials regarding the detention.

“We are in contact with the local authorities following the detention of a British man in the UAE,” the office was quoted as saying by CNN.

Radha Stirling, Chief Executive of Detained in Dubai, explained that the British tourist was indicted alongside 20 others as UAE authorities intensify enforcement of cybercrime laws against individuals posting or sharing footage of the missile and drone attacks.

Stirling noted that under UAE legislation, individuals who repost or even comment on videos circulating online could also face prosecution, adding that all detainees were charged under the same indictment.

“One video can quickly lead to dozens of people facing criminal charges,” the group said in a statement.

The British tourist, whose identity remains undisclosed, reportedly captured footage of a missile flying overhead but deleted the clip after being instructed to do so by police officers. Despite complying with the request, he was subsequently arrested, Stirling said.

Under UAE cybercrime regulations, offenders face a minimum sentence of two years in prison and fines starting from 200,000 dirhams (approximately $54,000). Stirling noted that several charges could be combined in a single case, potentially increasing penalties.

Detained in Dubai also argued that the allegations against the British citizen remain “very vague,” stating that the accused persons were alleged to have used digital networks to publish or circulate false information, rumours, or provocative material capable of influencing public opinion or disturbing public order.

In a related development, Stirling revealed that an Indian student studying at Dubai University was arrested after filming a missile strike near the Palm Islands. According to her, the student had only shared the video within a family group chat but remains in detention.

She further disclosed that two French nationals who had been detained for recording missile activity during the conflict were later released without charges.

The UK Embassy in the UAE has warned British citizens to comply strictly with local regulations, cautioning that photographing or sharing images of attack sites, damaged infrastructure, government buildings, or diplomatic missions could lead to arrest, fines, imprisonment, or deportation.

Speaking in an interview with UK radio station LBC, the UAE’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mansoor Abulhoul, defended the measures, insisting they were aimed at maintaining public safety.

“The United Arab Emirates is very safe,” Abulhoul said, adding that authorities discourage people from filming missile incidents partly to prevent them from being exposed to falling debris.

Last Friday, the UAE Attorney General’s Office issued a public warning urging residents not to circulate photos, videos, or inaccurate information relating to attack locations, noting that such actions could trigger panic.

Government alerts distributed through emails, text messages, and public announcements also cautioned residents against sharing images of sensitive sites or reposting unverified information.

“Photographing or sharing security or critical sites, or reposting unreliable information, may result in legal action and compromise national security and stability,” one advisory read.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, more than 1,800 drones and missiles have been launched at the country since the conflict began. Authorities confirmed that at least six people have been killed, while 141 others have sustained injuries.