Cybercrime Defence Lawyers in Dubai

Federal Decree-Law 34 of 2021 governs offences involving networks, electronic systems, websites and digital platforms. It has been in force since 2 January 2022.

Conduct Covered By The Law

Federal Decree-Law 34 of 2021 reaches unlawful conduct committed through information networks, electronic systems, websites and digital platforms. Its categories include unauthorised access, dissemination of false information and rumours, online defamation and insult, privacy violations, deepfake identities, and blackmail or stalking through the distribution of personal photographs or videos without consent. The medium and manner of communication are therefore central to how an allegation is classified.

Defamation And False Information

Practitioners report that the law provides monetary ranges of AED 250,000 to AED 500,000 for online defamation and insult. For false information, rumours and privacy violations, reported monetary consequences begin at AED 200,000. These figures are reported ranges rather than a tariff, and they must not be treated as the predetermined result of a particular message, publication or complaint. The precise allegation and applicable provision remain material.

Access And Deepfake Allegations

The legislation covers unauthorised access to protected digital environments and the use of deepfake identities. It also reaches conduct through websites, electronic systems and digital platforms, rather than being limited to conventional social media posts. Evidence may therefore include digital communications and electronically stored material. Articles 414 to 426 of the Criminal Procedure Law separately permit remote communication technology to be used in criminal proceedings and evidence.

Privacy Photos And Consent

Consent is required to collect, transmit or process personal data. The offence categories also include blackmail or stalking through distributing another person’s photographs or videos without consent. Across the broader social media offences, practitioners report that the law provides ranges from AED 150,000 to AED 2,000,000, together with possible imprisonment and, for expatriates, deportation. Those ranges are not a prediction of the consequence of any identified act.

Cybercrime Defence And Procedure

A cybercrime complaint may involve police inquiry, Public Prosecution investigation, a travel ban under Article 99 of Federal Decree-Law 38 of 2022, trial and appeal. PROCONSULT ADVOCATES & LEGAL CONSULTANTS is licensed to appear and represents clients before all courts in the UAE. The firm works in English, Arabic and French. This page provides general legal information and does not assess any particular communication or device. Contacting the firm does not create a lawyer-client relationship.