The UAE has arrested 35 people, including 19 Indian nationals, for spreading fake missile videos and misinformation related to rising Gulf tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities have taken strict action against individuals accused of spreading misinformation related to the ongoing tensions in the Gulf region involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
According to officials, social media platforms have recently been flooded with misleading posts, fabricated videos, and false claims about missile attacks and military activities in the West Asian region.
As part of a crackdown on such content, UAE authorities arrested 35 individuals, including 19 Indian nationals, for violating the country's regulations related to national security and online misinformation.
Earlier, the UAE government had clearly warned residents not to record or share videos of missile strikes or defense system operations amid rising tensions in the Gulf. Despite these instructions, several individuals reportedly circulated misleading information and manipulated videos on social media.
UAE Attorney General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi ordered action against the offenders. Initially, 25 people were arrested, including 17 Indian nationals. Two days later, authorities detained 10 more individuals, among them two Indians, bringing the total number of Indian nationals arrested to 19 out of the 35 accused.
Investigations revealed that the suspects were operating in three separate groups, allegedly spreading propaganda online. The authorities said the accused shared videos of missiles, AI-generated fake footage, and posts supporting hostile narratives against certain countries.
Under UAE law, such offences can result in a minimum prison sentence of one year and a fine of 100,000 UAE dirhams. In Indian currency, the penalty could exceed ₹22 lakh.
Meanwhile, regional tensions remain high. Local media reported that Iran recently warned about evacuating three major UAE ports, and new security alerts were issued across the Gulf on Sunday morning. For the first time since the conflict began, Iran has also issued warnings to neighbouring countries not directly involved in the dispute with the United States.
Authorities in the UAE have reiterated that strict legal action will continue against anyone spreading misinformation that could threaten national security or public stability.
