Dubai: A new media law officially took effect across the United Arab Emirates on May 29, 2025, introducing stricter content regulations and penalties aimed at aligning media practices with national values and global standards.
Issued under Federal Media Law No. 55 of 2023, the legislation covers print, broadcast, and digital platforms. It imposes fines ranging from AED 10,000 to AED 1 million for violations, depending on the severity and recurrence of the offence.
To guide compliance, the UAE Media Council released 20 mandatory content standards that emphasize respect for religious values, national identity, state institutions, public order, and social cohesion. These standards also regulate advertising, privacy, children’s rights, and misinformation.
- Content must show respect for the Divine Entity, Islamic beliefs, monotheistic religions, and all other faiths, without causing offense.
- The media must uphold the UAE’s system of governance, national symbols, and institutions, prioritizing the state’s interests.
- Publications should align with the state’s domestic and foreign policy orientations.
- Content that could damage the UAE’s foreign relations must be avoided.
- Cultural heritage and the UAE’s national identity must be respected and preserved.
- Unity and social cohesion must not be undermined by any media content.
- Incitement to sectarianism, tribal or regional strife, violence, hatred, or terrorism is strictly prohibited.
- Public values must be upheld, and the media must serve the public interest.
- The legal, economic, judicial, and security systems must not be insulted or misrepresented.
- The privacy of individuals must be fully respected, with no intrusion into private lives.
- Content encouraging crimes such as murder, rape, or drug use is banned.
- The media must not promote content that violates public morals or promotes subversive ideas.
- False news, forged documents, or misattributed material must not be published or broadcast.
- Content harming the national currency or the country’s economic stability is prohibited.
- Spreading rumors or misleading information is not allowed.
- Extremist or subversive groups that oppose UAE interests must not be glorified.
- Guests and contributors featured in the media must be appropriate and reputable.
- Advertisements must respect the UAE’s culture, identity, and societal values.
- The UAE Media Council’s approved age rating system for creative works must be followed.
- Children’s rights must be respected in accordance with UAE laws and regulations
At a press conference, UAE Media Council Secretary-General Mohammed Saeed Al Shehhi stressed that the law encourages responsible content creation and is designed to support and not restrict the media sector. He added that licensing processes have been streamlined to ease operations for media outlets and content creators.
The law also enhances protections for journalists and media professionals, while empowering authorities to issue fines, revoke licences, and temporarily shut down outlets in cases of non-compliance. Media institutions are urged to review and update their editorial and operational policies to meet the new requirements.
