A court in Abu Dhabi has ordered a man to pay AED 25,000 (approximately €6,250 / £5,350) in compensation for photographing someone in a public space and posting the image on Snapchat without their consent. This ruling demonstrates how seriously the UAE treats privacy, even in locations where one might assume photography is permitted. For anyone living in or visiting the UAE, this is an important lesson.
The case began when the victim filed a complaint after discovering his photo had been posted on Snapchat without his knowledge. In February 2025, the Abu Dhabi criminal court convicted the defendant under the federal cybercrime law. The sentence was substantial: a provisional compensation order of AED 20,000 (approximately €5,000 / £4,300), a requirement to delete his Snapchat account, and a six-month ban on internet use. The defendant appealed, but the appeals court upheld the verdict in August 2025.
Subsequently, the victim also filed a separate civil claim for AED 50,000 (approximately €12,500 / £10,700). The civil court awarded an additional AED 5,000 (approximately €1,250 / £1,070) for moral damages, bringing the total compensation to AED 25,000 (approximately €6,250 / £5,350). The claim for financial damages was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Photography in Public Spaces is Not a Free Pass
Many people assume that if you are in a public place, you are free to photograph anyone and post those images online. In many Western countries, this is largely true, although restrictions are increasing there as well. However, in the UAE, the system is fundamentally different. Privacy laws are strict and apply everywhere, including parks, shopping centres, beaches, and other public spaces.
Under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021, the UAE’s cybercrime law, photographing or publishing someone’s image without consent is a criminal offence. The penalties are not light: up to six months’ imprisonment and fines ranging from AED 20,000 to AED 100,000 (approximately €5,000 to €25,000 / £4,300 to £21,500). As this case demonstrates, the victim can also initiate a separate civil procedure for additional compensation on top of these penalties.
This applies not only to photos but also to videos. It does not matter whether you film someone on the street, in a restaurant, or on the beach. Without the explicit consent of the person in question, you risk criminal prosecution. The platform used for sharing also makes no difference. Whether it is Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, or any other social medium, the law does not distinguish between them.
Dual Legal Consequences for Privacy Violations
What makes this case particularly noteworthy is that the victim pursued legal action twice. First through criminal law, where the perpetrator was convicted and punished. Then through civil law, where separate compensation was awarded. This means that as a perpetrator, you can be pursued twice for the same action.
The criminal conviction resulted in a fine, account deletion, and an internet ban. The civil procedure added a further financial compensation award. In theory, that civil claim could have been much higher if the victim had been able to prove he also suffered financial loss due to the publication.
For expatriates and tourists in the UAE, this is a warning that must be taken seriously. The impulse to quickly take a funny photo or video of a stranger on the street and share it with friends can prove costly. Literally. The consequences are not only financial but can also include a potential internet ban and, in the worst case, even imprisonment.
The lesson is clear: always ask for permission before photographing or filming anyone in the UAE, regardless of your location. And think twice before posting images of others on social media. Privacy laws in the UAE are stricter than most Westerners are accustomed to, and they are actively enforced.
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