A penalty of incarceration for a period not exceeding (2) two years or a fine not exceeding (20,000) twenty thousand AED shall be imposed on anyone who, through any means of publicity, attributes to another person an incident that would make him subject to punishment or expose him to public hatred or contempt. The penalty shall be incarceration and/or a fine if the act of libel is committed against a public servant or any person entrusted with a public service, during, due to or on the occasion of performing the public service, or if the act of libel violates honour or disgraces the reputation of families, or if it appears to achieve any unlawful purpose. If libel is expressed by publication in a newspaper or printed material, this shall be considered an aggravating circumstance.
Interpretation and application must be checked against the official text and current version.