The UAE has been listed as "Under Surveillance" by Reporters Without Borders since 2008. Pornographic sites are banned and so is anti-Islamic and anti-government/anti-police material. The United Arab Emirates censors the Internet using Secure Computing's solution.
The United Arab Emirates has an advanced surveillance system, which includes all online modes as well as real life monitoring of public spaces. Media outlets in the country are either owned by the state or must abide by its image and rules in order to operate.
Yes, most UAE businesses have the legal right to monitor telephone conversations as a risk management measure.
In Dubai, and by extension the UAE, the use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services are banned – including WhatsApp.
The country's ISPs Etisalat and du (telco) ban pornography, politically sensitive material and anything against the perceived moral values of the UAE. All or most VoIP services are blocked. Both WhatsApp and Snapchat calling functions were also blocked in the UAE, to comply with VoIP regulations.
Swearing and making rude gestures (including online) are considered obscene acts and offenders can be jailed or deported. Take particular care when dealing with the police and other officials. Public displays of affection are frowned upon, and there have been several arrests for kissing in public.
Swearing on WhatsApp
Swearing in public is completely prohibited in the UAE, with the use of the F-word being a crime, as it “disgraces the honour or the modesty” of a person, according to Article 373 of the UAE Penal Code. Swearing is punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine as high as 10,000 dirhams (£2,157).
You can wear shorts in Dubai and even skirts, if they are at knee length and not shorter than that. Just be mindful of the fact that there are a lot of families and children there.
Not only is it a criminal offence to drop an F-bomb in public, but it's also against the law to use abusive language in WhatsApp messages – and that includes the 'middle finger' emoji. Under the UAE's cyber crime laws, anyone convicted faces a fine of up to Dhs500,000, a prison sentence, and deportation.
There are no specific laws in the UAE that address the distribution of content or the authorisation/licensing of content distributors. The E-Media Law does, however, address the issue of what will be “Licensable Electronic Media Activities”.
Dubai's Islamic Affairs department has clarified that using someone else's WiFi without their knowledge is illegal in the UAE. Dubai's Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department has declared “a modern fatwa” that prohibits the use of illegal WiFi.
New media. New media, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram are used widely in the UAE by the government entities and by the public as well. H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai actively uses social media to communicate with the people.
Can we FaceTime from Dubai? No, you can't do FaceTime from Dubai because the application is illegal in the United Arab Emirates. If you want to use FaceTime in Dubai, you can access it with the help of a reputable VPN like NordVPN.
You can use FaceTime over Wi-Fi1 or over cellular on supported iOS or iPadOS devices. FaceTime isn't available or might not appear on devices purchased in United Arab Emirates.
Unfortunately, Zoom is blocked in the UAE and other countries like Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and others. We are here to help you to unblock Zoom in UAE and other countries. The best solution for Zoom in UAE is a VPN or Virtual Private Network. It will help you to bypass web limits and unblock Zoom.
In the UAE, the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) may not be considered as illegal if it is used in accordance with the guidelines of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (the 'TDRA').
Taking pictures or videos of individuals without their consent is regarded as an illegal act according to the UAE Penal Code, articles 378 and 379, and the UAE cybercrime law article 21. The reason is that it can be considered a breach of privacy.
Netflix is available in Dubai, but the available content is significantly different from what can be found on the service in the United States or other countries.
Are video calls illegal in Dubai? Yes, video calling is banned in UAE, but government telecom companies like Etisalat & Du provided video call facilities via different apps on a chargeable basis. Why is WhatsApp banned in Dubai? WhatsApp, Skype, IMO, and other VoIP apps are blocked in the UAE.
In Abu Dhabi, streaming of Netflix content is now allowed, but it's a great disappointment to many Netflix users. UAE Netflix only features about 28% of the shows of its US counterpart. The good news, you can watch American Netflix in Dubai.
In a post on its social media channels, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) informed users that the UAE would stop selling all phones that work only on 2G network from June 2022.
Gum is banned from sale in Dubai, making this a major prohibition. You'll have to carry your gum from abroad to indulge in the habit. However, medicated gum could be available at some drugstores and specialist shops.