Dubai’s skyline is a photographer’s dream, with its glittering skyscrapers and futuristic landscape. But before you start snapping, be careful: taking a picture without permission in the UAE can cost you up to $136,000 or even time behind bars.
In the UAE, privacy is a concern and the law backs it up. Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021, the Cybercrimes Law, spells it out. Article 44 says photographing someone without their consent – whether they’re in a public place or at home – is an invasion of privacy. The penalties are no joke: at least 6 months in jail, a fine between 150,000 and 500,000 AED (about $41,000 to $136,000) or both. This applies whether you’re taking, sharing or saving the photo, even if it’s unedited. It doesn’t matter if you’re a tourist with a phone or a photographer with fancy gear – the rules apply to everyone.
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What’s considered a problem? It’s not just people’s faces. The law includes taking pictures of someone’s car, house or anything that could identify them, like a license plate or address. In 2021, Dubai Police highlighted filming or photographing without consent, citing a case where a man was arrested for sharing a video of someone crying at a government office. The video went viral but the consequences were serious: possible jail time and a big fine. Even catching strangers in your selfie could get you in trouble if they don’t like it.
Some places make things trickier. You need special permits to photograph government buildings, military sites, courts or airports. Think you can safely snap the Burj Al Arab’s sails? Not always. Even public places like beaches, bridges or cultural landmarks have limits. For example, taking a photo at Dubai International Airport could raise security flags as officials worry about exposing layouts or tech. Breaking these rules can mean fines from 8,000 AED ($2,200) for half a day of unauthorized shooting at semi-government sites or up to 25,000 AED ($6,800) for a full day at government ones.
Why so strict? The UAE values privacy and security which is part of its culture and focus on safety. Article 43 of the Federal Copyright Law (Federal Decree Law No. 38 of 2021) reinforces this, prohibiting the use or sharing of someone’s photo without their consent. There are exceptions like photos for public interest such as news stories but those are rare and need solid reasoning. Editing a photo to harm someone’s reputation can get you 1 year in jail and fines starting from 250,000 AED. In 2018, someone was fined 250,000 AED for invasion of privacy, but the appeal reduced it to 50,000 AED – still a big amount.
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