As countries in the Gulf region continue to suffer from Iran’s retaliatory military offensive, the UAE is doubling down on its slew of arrests linked to social media crackdown. On Sunday, the United Arab Emirates ordered the arrest of 35 people of various nationalities for posting misleading and AI-generated clips related to the ongoing war. The overall list of apprehended individuals included 19 Indians as well.
While the fresh list highlights 17 Indians among 25 arrests, it expands the previous case report involving 10 arrests, including 2 Indians, who were ordered to be arrested on Saturday. As previously established, UAE Attorney General Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi enforced the order.
Indians arrested in UAE – Emirates’ Attorney General issues statement
A statement released by Shamsi indicated that the arrest orders were the consequence of intensive monitoring of the digital space to curb the dissemination of misinformation that could undermine national security.
Consequently, Emirati authorities have classified the suspect into three categories depending on the violation they’ve been accused of, according to the UAE attorney general’s statement. These groups pertain to those who may have published real clips related to current events, fabricated clips using AI, or promoted a state practising acts of military aggression while glorying its leadership.
Quoting the UAE attorney general, a WAM report suggested that the suspects will be facing fast-tracked trials for allegedly circulating manipulated footage online, which officials believe holds the power to sway public opinion about the current conflict wreaking havoc in the Emirates.
Who all have been arrested in UAE for circulating ‘misleading’ footage?
The first group, which consists of the originally red-flagged 10 individuals, allegedly circulated real video footage capturing the aerial interception of missiles in the UAE’s airspace. Those charged for the same include five Indians, one Pakistani national, two Filipinos, one Egyptian and one Nepali citizen.
The second group, comprising five Indians and one each from Nepal and Bangladesh, has been accused of publishing fabricated content made by AI. They have also been charged for amplifying footage of incidents from outside the country and inaccurately insinuating they happened inside the UAE.
The third and final group, consisting of five Indians and one Pakistani, have been accused of pushing content that seeks to glorify a hostile state and its leadership, as per Shamsi’s statement cited in Emirates’ reports.
In light of the charges these individuals are facing, they could reportedly be imprisoned for at least one year and face a fine of no less than AED 1,00,000.
UAE’s repeated warnings amid social media crackdown
Authorities in the West Asian country have repeatedly issued warnings via their official channels, advising residents against filming sites impacted by drone and missile attacks. The fresh batch of 35 arrests adds on to the previous string of apprehensions, which even included some individuals who are believed to have shared actual footage of aerial interceptions in addition to circulating unverified information online.
As per a rule enforced by the UAE in February 2026, advertisers and content creators must mandatorily acquire an Advertiser Permit (influencer e-media permit). Moreover, creators are also required to acquire a Commercial Trade License.
On top of that, Dubai authorities warned the public against sharing old videos and images of past fires on social media following the first strikes in the UAE. “We confirm that they are inaccurate and misleading,” the Dubai Media Office said in late February. The UAE Public Prosecution has even warned residents not to publish rumours or information from unknown sources on social media.