Dubai Govt Jails British National for Sharing Videos of Iranian Missiles on Social Media

A British tourist arrested in Dubai after allegedly recording and sharing footage linked to Iranian missile strikes is facing up to two years in prison after being charged under the emirate’s cybercrime laws, according to the campaign group Detained in Dubai.

The group said the man, a 60-year-old from London, was detained on Monday night. It added that he claims he removed the video immediately when challenged and maintains he had no intention of breaking the law.

Detained in Dubai says the British national has been charged alongside around 20 other people over videos and social media posts connected to recent strikes.

The alleged offence involves publishing or circulating rumors or provocative material that authorities say could undermine public safety, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment.

Dubai’s authorities have repeatedly warned against sharing content online that could cause alarm during the ongoing regional conflict.

In the early days of the escalation, videos of drones and missiles were widely circulated on social platforms, but such posts have since become far less common as enforcement and public warnings intensified.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, said UAE cybercrime rules can lead to multiple arrests stemming from a single piece of content, arguing that people who share, repost, or even comment on the same material may be treated as part of the same case.

She also cautioned that the wording of the charges can be broad, leaving those accused exposed to serious penalties.

The case comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Dubai and other Gulf locations reportedly affected by missile and drone incidents.

Authorities have continued to stress strict limits on online content, including laws that penalize posts deemed to harm the country’s reputation or criticize state institutions, offenses that can carry heavy fines, prison time, and deportation.

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