The strict regulations in the United Arab Emirates can end you in jail for using insulting words towards someone such as ‘fool’ or ‘silly’. Cyberbullying and any type of offensive words towards others are not tolerated at all and will be taken very seriously which could lead you to face a penalty up to 500,000 AED or jail.
The cyber security online is very high which allows the cyber crime team to be able to track any type of harassment online towards others whether it’s your friend or attacking a stranger online. A man recently got fined 20,000 AED for messaging his fiancé ‘fool’ with another man in the trial for calling his colleague ‘silly’.
Whether the terminology was used as an insult or joke, according to the country’s laws you can end up in jail and will face a fine.
You must be very careful with the choices of words you utilise while communication or texting someone as that can be monitored easily by the internet security team and the person can file a complaint against which can result in being prosecuted.
This is the what the law states about insults
Federal Penal Code:
Article 373
Shall be sentenced to detention for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not in excess of Dh10,000. Whoever casts another, by any publicity means, with any statement that affects his honour or dignity without attributing to him a fact.
The penalty shall be detention for a term not exceeding two years and a fine not in excess of Dh20,000 – in both instances, or one of those two penalties – if the insult is addressed to a public servant or a person in charge of a public service, during or because of the discharge of his duties or performing the public service, or if it affects honour or reputation of the families, or is expected to fulfil an illicit purpose.
Article 374(1)
Shall be sentenced to detention for a maximum period of six months or to a fine not exceeding Dh5,000 in case the libel or insult takes place through the telephone or facing the victim in the presence of others.
The penalty shall be a fine not exceeding Dh5,000 if the label or insult takes place facing the victim without the presence of a third party or in a letter dispatched to him by any means whatsoever. Shall be considered an aggravating circumstance if the label or insult – in the stances stated in the paragraphs hereinabove – is addressed to a public servant or a person in charge of a public service, during or because of discharging his duties or performing his service, or if affecting his honour or the reputation of the families, or is expected to reach an illicit objective.
Federal Decree Law No. 5 of 2012:
(Issued on 25 Ramadan 1433 AH Corresponding to 13 August 2012 on Combating Cybercrimes)
Article 20
Without prejudice to the crime of slander determined by the Islamic Sharia, shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine not less than Dh250,000 and not in excess of Dh500,000 or either of these two penalties whoever insults or accuses another person of a matter of which he shall be subject to punishment or being held in contempt by others, by using a computer network or an information technology means. If a slander or insult is committed against a public official or servant in the course of or because of his work, this shall be considered an aggravating factor of the crime.
More information can be found on the source https://www.government.ae/en/resources/laws