Home / United Arab Emirates / Defamation / insult

Defamation / insultPossibly — unconfirmed

Possibly — unconfirmed

Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.

Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed

Art. 425 — publicly defaming another by imputing a fact rendering him liable to punishment or contemptPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment: Imprisonment up to 2 years
Fine: Fine up to AED 20,000

Imprisonment or fine. Against a public official / person assigned to public service, against decency / family reputation, or for an unlawful purpose: imprisonment AND fine (or either). Publication in a newspaper/publication is aggravating.

Art. 426 — publicly insulting another, injuring honour or dignity, without imputing a specific factPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment: Imprisonment up to 1 year
Fine: Fine up to AED 20,000

Against a public official / person assigned to public service, family honour/reputation, or for an unlawful purpose: up to 2 years + fine AED 20,000–50,000, or either.

Art. 427 — defamation / insult by telephone, or face-to-face in the presence of anotherPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment: Imprisonment up to 6 months
Fine: Fine up to AED 5,000

Public-official victim is aggravating.

Source

Statute: Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, Arts. 425–427
Official source: Secondary sources (law-firm summaries quoting Arts. 425–427; UAE Public Prosecution posts) — official text not retrieved
Verification status
Last verified: 2026-10-19

Not legal advice. This range is the statutory penalty as written in the law — it is not “your sentence.” What is NOT accounted for here: Priors, plea, discretion, civil damages claim. If you face a real charge, consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.