UAE implements new media laws: what you should know. world News
The new media law with a broad -access has officially come into force in the United Arab Emirates by May 29, 2025, which brings it a detailed outline for media regulation and enforcement. The law declared by the UAE Media Council targets violations on traditional and digital platforms, which can reach DH1 million with fine, and even DH2 million for repeat offenses.The step focuses on the UAE on accountability, honor and professionalism in the media, updated licensing rules, with strict material standards, and wrong information, clear results for religious or moral violations, and clear results with dangers for national security.Major crime and corresponding punishmentThe law breaks violations in several categories, each scaled by severity and repetition with clearly defined punishment:
1. Religious and moral violations
- Graming outrageous religious beliefs or divine: DH1,000,000
- Violation of public morality or promoting destructive ideologies: up to DH100,000
- Crimes like murder, rape, or misuse of drugs: DH150,000
2. Crime against state and national security
- Disrespecting national symbols, system of governance, or state institutes: DH50,000 to DH500,000
- Domestic or Foreign Policy: DH50,000 to DH500,000
- Reducing foreign relations or social harmony: DH250,000
- Unlicensed operation:
- First Crime: DH10,000
- Repeated crime: DH40,000
- Failure to renew a license within 30 days: DH150 per day, up to DH3,000
- To transfer a license or make unauthorized changes: up to DH20,000
- Publication with a finished license:
- First Crime: DH10,000
- Repeated crime: DH20,000, doubled with each recurrence
4. Misinformation and publication crime
- Dissemination of false information:
- First Crime: DH5,000
- Repeated crime: DH10,000
- Organizing or interrupting a book fair without a permit: DH40,000 (couple with recurrence)
- Media content printing or publication without a license: DH20,000 (couple with recurrence)
5. foreign correspondent
- Unlicensed operation: 3 written warnings
- Repeated crime: DH10,000
In severe or repeated cases, the law allows temporary closure for six months, permanent shutdowns, or disarray of license or permit.
20 binding media content standard
To ensure clarity and stability, the UAE Media Council released 20 compulsory material standards for all media institutions and professionals. These are designed to protect national interests, social values and personal rights, and are derived from the federal media law number 55 of 2023 and its executive rules.There are 20 standard:
- Respect for divine, Islamic beliefs, other Abrahamic religions and all religions, no crime is allowed.
- Respect for the system of rule of United Arab Emirates, national symbols, institutions and the highest interests of the state.
- The United Arab Emirates honors for domestic and foreign policies.
- Any material that damages the UAE’s foreign relations.
- Protect cultural heritage and national identity.
- Any material that reduces national unity or social harmony.
- Prohibition of communal, tribal, or regional provocation; There is no propaganda of violence, hatred speech, or terrorism.
- Following social moral values and protection of public interest.
- Any material that discredits legal, economic, judicial or security systems.
- Personal privacy and respect for personal life.
- Strict restrictions on provoking or promoting criminal acts, including murder, rape, or drug use.
- Any aggressive picture, language, or picture that violate public decency or harm children/youth.
- Ban on false news or fake documents is falsely responsible for individuals or institutions.
- Any material that damages the national currency or reduces the economic reputation of the country.
- There is no spread of rumors or disintegration.
- Ban on glorifying or promoting hostile political, racial, ideological, or social groups.
- Media programs should carefully select guests and participants to maintain public policy and professionalism.
- Advertisement should respect the UAE culture, identity and values.
- Adherence to age classifications as approved by Media Council.
- Complete compliance with child protection laws and national laws related to minors.
Advertising and Media Program Guidelines
The council insisted that advertising materials should align with the national values of the United Arab Emirates, respect cultural sensitivity, and strictly follow the age rating classification. Advertisers and media manufacturers expect safety of child rights, ensuring that there is no harmful message guided on the young audience.There may be failure to follow these advertising and programming standards:
- Official warning
- Fines up to DH1 million
- Doubly for repeated violations within a year (not more than DH2 million)
- Temporary off (up to six months)
- Permanent shutdown and license revision based on seriousness
The new media law is part of the UAE’s effort to align domestic media rules with international standards. It is designed not only to punish, but also to protect a safe, respectable and responsible media environment for professionals, affected and public.This is a firm step towards making the media sector professional, protecting public values and ensuring that the information shared in the UAE is accurate, respectable and consistent at the national level.
