UAE Media Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023) & Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2025 — Standards, Violations & Fines
An in-depth, practitioner-friendly guide to content obligations, enforcement powers, fines, grievance timelines, and practical compliance steps for media entities, publishers, broadcasters, influencers, and platforms operating in (or targeting) the UAE.
Last updated: May 2025
Overview & Scope
The United Arab Emirates’ Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 on the Regulation of Media (“UAE Media Law”) establishes a comprehensive framework governing content creation, publication, and distribution across traditional and digital media. It covers broadcasters, print and online publishers, platforms, production houses, and digital content creators (including influencers).
In May 2025, Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2025 introduced a detailed schedule of violations and administrative penalties applicable across the UAE, including media free zones. Together, these instruments define what may be published and the consequences of non-compliance.
Mandatory Media Content Standards (Article 17)
Article 17 requires any person or entity practicing media activities to comply with the following content standards. Unless specified, fines reflect the first known administrative penalty; repeat conduct may attract higher penalties or complementary measures.
- Religious Sanctity: Respect the Divine Entity, Islamic beliefs, heavenly religions, and other beliefs; do not insult or abuse these beliefs. First offence: AED 100,000; repeat: up to AED 1,000,000.
- State & Institutions: Respect the regime, symbols, government institutions, and the UAE’s supreme interests. First offence: AED 50,000.
- Policy Alignment: Respect the UAE’s orientation and policy at local and international levels. First offence: AED 50,000.
- Foreign Relations: Do not affect or harm the UAE’s foreign relations. First offence: AED 30,000.
- Culture & Identity: Respect the UAE’s cultural and civilizational heritage and national identity. First offence: AED 30,000.
- National Unity: Do not publish content offensive to national unity or social cohesion. First offence: AED 30,000.
- Incitement & Extremism: Do not incite sectarian, regional, or tribal conflict, violence, hatred, or terrorism; do not promote discord. First offence: AED 100,000.
- Community Values: Do not offend community values; consider public interest.
- Justice, Economy & Security: Do not offend the legal, economic, judicial, or security systems. First offence: AED 30,000.
- Privacy: Respect privacy and individuals’ private lives; avoid unlawful disclosure.
- Crime Inducement: Do not incite crimes or encourage killing, rape, or drug/psychotropic substance use.
- Public Morals & Youth: Do not publish expressions, photos, drawings, or opinions breaching public morals, corrupting youth, or advocating destructive thoughts.
- False Information: Do not publish fake news or falsified papers falsely attributed to persons or entities. Rumors/fake news first offence: AED 10,000.
- Economic Stability: Do not offend the national currency or the UAE’s economic status.
- Further Standards: Comply with any additional standards in the Implementing Regulation.
Summary Table: Key Violations & Fines
| Category | Violation Description | First-Time Fine / Penalty | Escalation / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Religious Sanctity | Insulting/violating Islamic beliefs, the Divine Entity, or other religions | AED 100,000 | Up to AED 1,000,000 for repeat offences |
| State & National Symbols | Insulting the regime, leadership, national symbols, or harming national interest | AED 50,000 | Higher fines for aggravated breaches |
| Policy Compliance | Contradicting UAE domestic or foreign policy | AED 50,000 | Discretion to increase depending on severity |
| Foreign Relations | Material harming diplomatic relations | AED 30,000 | Increased penalties on repetition |
| Culture & Identity | Offending UAE heritage, traditions, or national identity | AED 30,000 | May include broadcasting restrictions |
| National Unity | Harming social cohesion or national unity | AED 30,000 | Possible suspension of media license |
| Hate Speech / Incitement | Inciting violence, terrorism, sectarianism, tribal conflict, or hatred | AED 100,000 | Potential prosecution or shutdown |
| Public Morals & Youth | Content breaching public morals, corrupting youth, or promoting destructive ideologies | Authority-determined | Takedown orders / platform restrictions |
| Legal/Economic/Security System | Offending judicial, legal, economic, or security systems | AED 30,000 | Judicial action possible |
| Privacy | Publishing private personal information without consent | Authority-determined | Civil liability exposure |
| Crime Inducement | Encouraging crimes (e.g., murder, rape) or drug use | Authority-determined | Criminal prosecution possible |
| False Information | Fake news, forged documents, false attributions | AED 10,000 | Higher fines and license measures possible |
| Economic Stability & Currency | Content harming the UAE economy or national currency | Authority-determined | Monitoring and content removal |
| Rumors & Misinformation | Publishing unverified rumors or fake news | AED 10,000 | Doubled if repeated within one year |
| Licensing Violations | Operating without/with expired license; other licensing breaches | AED 5,000 – AED 40,000 | Activity suspension or closure |
| Repeat Violations | Same violation within 12 months | — | Fine doubled; potential license revocation |
| General Non-Compliance | Breaches of regulations or executive directives | Authority-determined | Provisional or permanent closure |
Note: Fines may be accompanied by non-monetary measures such as content takedowns, license suspension/cancellation, blocking of pages/platforms, equipment seizure, or referral to criminal authorities depending on severity.
Administrative Penalties & Licensing Fines (Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2025)
Article 3 of the Cabinet Decision empowers the competent authority to impose administrative fines for breaches of the UAE Media Law and to double the fine if a repeat violation occurs within one year of the prior offence. Where media content standards are violated, the authority may impose fines proportionate to the violation’s seriousness.
Who the Penalties Apply To
- Individuals (including influencers and content creators)
- Media facilities and establishments
- Media outlets and platforms
- Entities operating in UAE and in media free zones
Licensing-Related Fines
- Violations of licensing rules may attract fines ranging from AED 5,000 to AED 40,000.
- Serious or repeated violations can lead to activity suspension or closure.
Possible Non-Monetary Measures
- Content removal / takedown orders
- Temporary or permanent shutdown of media operations
- Suspension or cancellation of licenses/permits
- Seizure of content/equipment
- Blocking of websites, pages, or accounts
- Referral for criminal investigation/prosecution in severe cases
Grievance & Appeal Mechanism
The competent authority must notify the media entity of the penalty and details of the violation within 15 days of issuing the fine. Entities can challenge the decision through a reasoned grievance supported by documents.
| Step | Action | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Notification | Authority notifies entity of violation and penalty | Within 15 days of issuing the fine |
| Filing Grievance | Entity files a reasoned, documented grievance with the competent authority | Within 15 days of notification |
| Decision | Authority issues a decision on the grievance | Within 15 days of filing |
| No Response | Silence beyond the 15-day window | Deemed rejection |
Practical Compliance Checklist
- Editorial Governance: Maintain a written policy mapping Article 17 standards to editorial review steps.
- Pre-Publication Review: Flag content touching religion, state symbols, policy, foreign relations, or public morals for senior legal/editorial sign-off.
- Verification: Institute a two-source rule for sensitive claims; preserve citations and documentation.
- Privacy & Consent: Obtain consent for personal data; mask identities where appropriate.
- Crisis Protocols: Have takedown and correction procedures; log decisions and timestamps.
- Influencer Controls: Contractually bind creators to UAE standards; provide training and pre-clearance.
- Licensing Hygiene: Track license expiry/renewals; record media activity scope.
- Repeat-Offence Watch: Monitor violations for 12 months to avoid automatic fine-doubling.
- Recordkeeping: Maintain an audit trail of reviews, approvals, and grievances.
Conclusion
Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 and Cabinet Decision No. 42 of 2025 together offer a clear and enforceable framework for ethical content creation and distribution in the UAE. By aligning editorial practices with Article 17’s standards and adopting robust compliance controls, media entities can reduce risk, safeguard audiences, and maintain operational continuity in a high-integrity media environment.
