The Embassy of Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued a public notice urging all Pakistani nationals residing in the country to strictly adhere to new media regulations introduced by local authorities, warning that violations could lead to severe penalties.

The advisory follows the implementation of the UAE Cabinet decision on media regulation, which officially came into effect on May 29, 2025. The law outlines a broad framework of 20 categories of media-related violations that apply to individuals, media organizations, and digital platforms.

Key penalties under new law:

Insulting religious beliefs or the Divine Entity: AED 100,000 to 1,000,000
Disrespecting UAE leadership, national symbols, or institutions: AED 50,000 to 500,000
Publishing content harmful to foreign relations: AED 30,000 to 250,000
Encouraging sectarianism, violence, or terrorism: AED 100,000 to 500,000
Spreading immoral, false, or misleading information: AED 10,000 to 100,000
Violating privacy or children’s rights: AED 5,000 to 100,000
Ignoring age ratings or misrepresenting national identity: AED 5,000 to 100,000

The embassy has called upon the Pakistani community to exercise caution on social media and other online platforms, and to respect local laws, traditions, and cultural sensitivities.

Public Notice – New Media Regulation Law in the UAE

The Embassy of Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates would like to bring to notice of all members of the Pakistani community an important new legal development announced by UAE authorities.

Effective from 29 May 2025, UAE… pic.twitter.com/sZx61HPjIw
— Pakistan Embassy UAE (@PakinUAE_) June 3, 2025

“We strongly advise all Pakistani nationals to familiarize themselves with the new media law and refrain from sharing, liking, or commenting on any content that could be interpreted as offensive or unlawful under UAE regulations,” the notice read.