UAE threatens to JAIL influencers who post 'misinformation' about Iran war

One lifestyle influencer with millions of Instagram followers told The Telegraph she deleted footage of burning debris filmed outside her flat after an Iranian missile was intercepted overhead on Saturday.

"The Dubai authorities want to control the narrative, that's for sure. There are strict rules about what you can say here," she said anonymously.

She added that social media users "have to be very careful about what they say" in the emirate.

Dubai was directly affected by the conflict over the weekend as fragments from intercepted Iranian missiles landed across the city.

Debris struck the Fairmont hotel on Palm Jumeirah on Saturday evening, with footage showing flames erupting from the building’s atrium.

The following morning, Dubai International Airport was hit by further missile fragments.

Reports also suggested shrapnel damaged the Burj Al Arab, the Port of Jebel Ali and other civilian sites across the city.

Describing her initial reaction, the influencer said: "I was numb when I saw the flames. I didn't know how to feel because at first, I didn't know what I was looking at."

She said life had since begun returning to normal, with people once again visiting the beaches.

The UAE’s public prosecution office issued a warning within hours of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, cautioning against "publishing or circulating rumours and information from unknown sources through social media platforms or any other technological means".

Officials said such activity risked "the spread of confusion and harm to the security and stability of society".

The statement also warned that individuals who share or repost unverified information could face legal consequences "even if they are not the original creator of such content".

"Be aware and informed. Information is a responsibility, and spreading rumours is a crime," it noted.

The strict rules appear to have prompted widespread self-censorship among influencers benefiting from Dubai’s “Creators HQ” visa scheme, which offers sponsor-free permits for content creators.

Campaign group Detained in Dubai, which has represented foreign nationals prosecuted over social media posts, warned visitors may unknowingly break the law.

Its chief executive Radha Stirling said: "Visitors are particularly vulnerable because they often assume they are protected by their home country's standards of free speech. They are not."

She warned stranded travellers complaining about evacuation delays online could face prosecution.

"There is a real risk that well-meaning visitors stranded in the UAE will be inadvertently breaking the law," she said.

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