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Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes Law — articles 1–74
- Article 1 — Article (1) Definitions
For applying the provisions of this Decree-Law, the following words and expressions shall denote the meaning ascribed thereto respectively, unless otherwise required by the context: UAE: The United Arab Emirates Governme…
- Article 2 — Article (2) Hacking
1. Whoever hacks a website, an electronic IS, an information network or a piece of ITE shall be punished with imprisonment and/ or a fine of not less than (AED 100,000) one hundred thousand dirhams or more than (AED 300,…
- Article 3 — Article (3) Hacking the Government Entities' Information Systems
1. Whoever hacks a website, electronic IS, information network or a piece of ITE belonging to the government entities shall be punished with temporary imprisonment and a fine of not less than (AED 200,000) two hundred th…
- Article 4 — Article (4) Causing Harm to Information Systems
1. Whoever willfully causes harm, destruction, interruption or disruption of a website, electronic IS, information network or a piece of ITE, shall be punished with imprisonment for at least one year and/ or a fine of no…
- Article 5 — Article (5) Harm to Information System of Government Entity and Critical Facility
Whoever willfully causes harm, destruction, interruption or disruption of a website, electronic IS, information network or a piece of ITE belonging to one of the government entities or critical facilities shall be punish…
- Article 6 — Article (6) Infringement of Personal Data and Information
1. Whoever acquires, possesses, modifies, destroys, reveals, leaks, cancels, deletes, copies, disseminates, or re-disseminates any personal electronic data or information using the information technology or any ITE witho…
- Article 7 — Article (7) Infringement of Government Data and Information
1. Whoever acquires, possesses, modifies, destroys, reveals, leaks, cancels, deletes, copies, disseminates, or re-disseminates any government confidential data or information without permission shall be punished with tem…
- Article 8 — Article (8) Infringement of Data of Financial, Commercial or Economic Establishments
Whoever acquires, possesses, modifies, destroys, reveals, leaks, cancels, deletes, alters, copies, disseminates, or re-disseminates any confidential data or information pertaining to any financial, commercial or economic…
- Article 9 — Article (9) Unauthorized Acquisition of Third Party's Codes and Ciphers
1. Whoever acquires the PIN code, cipher, or password or the like pertaining to a website, information system, information network or ITE without permission or authorization of the person concerned shall be punished with…
- Article 10 — Article (10) Circumventing the Information Network with the Intention of Committing a Crime
Any person who circumvents the protocol address of an information network by using an address belonging to another person, or by any other means, with the intent to commit a crime or to prevent its detection, shall be pu…
- Article 11 — Article (11) Creating Fake Emails, Websites, and Electronic Accounts
1. Whoever creates a fake website, an account or an email and attributes it falsely to any natural or legal person shall be punished with imprisonment and/ or a fine of not less than (AED 50,000) fifty thousand dirhams o…
- Article 12 — Article (12) Illegal Interception and Disclosure of Information
1. Whoever obstructs or intercepts the access to an information network, website, or electronic IS or any electronic connection, information or data shall be punished with imprisonment and/ or a fine of not less than (AE…
- Article 13 — Article (13) Collecting and Processing Personal Data and Information in Violation of the Legislation
Whoever uses the information technology or ITE to collect, save, or process personal data and information of nationals and residents of the UAE in violation of the legislation in force in the UAE shall be punished with i…
- Article 14 — Article (14) Forging E-documents
1. Whoever forges an e-document belonging to any of the federal or local government or the public federal or local authorities or entities shall be punished with temporary imprisonment and a fine of not less than (AED 15…
- Article 15 — Article (15) Hacking E-Payment Instruments
Whoever forges, clones or copies any credit card, debit card, or any e-payment instrument, or captures its data or information using any of the ITE ISs shall be punished with imprisonment and/or a fine of not less than (…
- Article 16 — Article (16) Using Electronic Systems to Commit Crimes and to Conceal Evidence
Any person who possesses, acquires, prepares, designs, produces, imports, makes available, or uses any information program, information technology mean, passcodes, or codes, or uses encryption, with the intent to commit …
- Article 17 — Article (17) Crimes Committed by Administrator of Website or Electronic Account
Whoever manages, creates or uses a website or account on an information network with the intent to commit or to facilitate the commission of a crime punishable by law shall be punished with imprisonment for at least one …
- Article 18 — Article (18) Tampering with Digital Evidence
Everyone responsible for managing a website or an account on an information network, an e-mail, or an IS and conceals or tampers with digital evidence pertaining to any of the crimes stipulated in this Decree-Law with th…
- Article 19 — Article (19) Dissemination of Data or Information Not Compliant with Media Content Standards
Everyone responsible for managing a website or an electronic account that has posted on any of it any content, data or information that does not comply with the media content standards issued by the authorities concerned…
- Article 20 — Part One: Content Crimes: Article (20) Inciting the Suspension of the Provisions of the Constitution and Laws
Whoever creates, manages, or supervises a website or publishes information, programs or thoughts that include, aim to or instigate overthrowing the ruling regime change or seizure of power in the UAE, or to suspend the p…
- Article 21 — Article (21) Advocacy and Promotion of Terrorist Groups
1. Whoever creates, manages, or supervises a website or publishes information or data pertaining to terrorist group(s), society, or organization or an illicit body via the information network or the ITE with the intentio…
- Article 22 — Article (22) Dissemination of Information to Harm the Interests of the UAE
Whoever uses information network or ITE and provides to any organization, institution, body, person or entity any information, data, reports or documents that are not authorized to be published or circulated and would ha…
- Article 23 — Article (23) Incitement to Harm the Security of the UAE and to Assault Judicial Officers
Whoever creates, manages, or supervises a website or uses information on the information network or on the ITE with the intention of inciting actions, disseminating or broadcasting information, news, cartoons or any othe…
- Article 24 — Article (24) Promoting Sedition and Harming the National Unity
Whoever uses of information network or any ITE to create, manage, or supervise a website or to disseminate information, programs or thoughts that include incitement, promotion or advocation of sedition, hatred, racism, o…
- Article 25 — Article (25) Mockery and Tainting the Reputation of the UAE and its Public Figures
Whoever publishes information, news, data, visual images, visual or optical materials or rumors on a website, any information network or ITE with the intention of mocking or damaging the reputation, prestige, or dignity …
- Article 26 — Article (26) Unauthorized Call for and Promotion of Demonstrations
Whoever creates, manages, or supervises a website or uses information on the information network or the ITE in order to plan for, organize, promote, or call for demonstrations, marches, or similar acts without obtaining …
- Article 27 — Article (27) Incitement to Disobedience of the Legislation
Whoever calls for or incites to disobedience of the legislation in force in the UAE through dissemination of information via the information network or any ITE shall be punished with imprisonment and/ or a fine of not le…
- Article 28 — Article (28) Offending a Foreign Country
Whoever disseminates information or data on the information network or any ITE which include offending of foreign countries shall be punished with imprisonment for at least (6) six months and/ or a fine of not less than …
- Article 29 — Article (29) Trafficking in and Promotion of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives
Whoever creates, manages or supervises a website or publishes information on an information network or ITE with the intention of trafficking in or promoting firearms, ammunition or explosives in cases other than those au…
- Article 30 — Article (30) Transfer, Possession, Use or Acquisition of Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs)
Without prejudice to the provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Law, whoever willfully commits any of the following acts through the use of any information network, IS, or any ITE shall be punished with imprisonment for…
- Article 31 — Article (31) Trafficking in and Promotion of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Whoever creates, manages, or supervises a website or disseminates information or data on the information network or ITE for the purpose of trafficking in or promoting narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and etc., …
- Article 32 — Article (32) Creation and Management of a Website for Trafficking in Human Beings
Whoever creates, manages, or supervises a website or disseminates information or data on the information network or using a piece of ITE with the intention of trafficking in human beings or organs or illegal trading in t…
- Article 33 — Article (33) Incitement to Immoral Acts and Prostitution
Whoever incites or tempts third parties to commit prostitution or immoral acts, or assists him/her to do so through the use an information network or any ITE shall be punished with temporary imprisonment and a fine of no…
- Article 34 — Article (34) Disseminating Obscene Materials And Violating the Public Morals
Whoever creates, manages, or supervises a website, or broadcasts, transmits, disseminates, re-disseminates or displays through the information network any obscene materials and everything which would violate the public m…
- Article 35 — Article (35) Engaging Children in Creating Pornographic Materials
1. Whoever incites, seduces, or assists a child to broadcast, createor transmit obscene material using the information network or the ITE shall be punished with imprisonment for at least (2) two years and/ or a fine of n…
- Article 36 — Article (36) Possession of Child Pornographic Materials
Whoever willfully possesses any child pornographic materials using the electronic IS, information network, website, or any ITE shall be punished with imprisonment for at least (6) six months and a fine of not less than (…
- Article 37 — Article (37) Blasphemy and Condoning the Sin
Whoever uses information network, any ITE, or a website to commit any of the following crimes shall be punished with imprisonment and/ or a fine of not less than (AED 250,000) two hundred fifty thousand dirhams or more t…
- Article 38 — Article (38) Promotion of Gambling Activities
Whoever creates, manages or supervises a website, or uses information network to broadcast, transmit, disseminate, re-disseminate, or promote practicing of gambling activities in the cases other than the authorized shall…
- Article 39 — Article (39) Illicit Trafficking in Antiquities and Works of Art
Whoever creates, manages or supervises a website or uses an information network or any ITE with the intention of trafficking in antiquities and works of art in cases other than those authorized by law shall be punished w…
- Article 40 — Article (40) Internet Fraud
Whoever illegally seizes for himself or for third parties a movable asset, a benefit or a document or signs this document through the use of any of the fraud techniques, or through taking an alias or false impersonation …
- Article 41 — Article (41) Unauthorized Fundraising
Whoever calls for or promotes a contest or electronic currency, or creates or manages a fictitious portfolio or company with the intention of receiving or raising funds from the public for the purpose of investing, manag…
- Article 42 — Article (42) Cyberextortion and Cyber Threats
1. Whoever uses an information network or any ITE to extort or threaten another person to force the latter to act or to refrain from acting shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than (2) two years and/ or a fi…
- Article 43 — Article (43) Defamation and Slander
Whoever uses an information network, ITE, or an information system and insults another or attributes a quality to him that would make that person subject to punishment or contempt by third parties shall be punished with …
- Article 44 — Article (44) Revealing Secrets and Invasion of Privacy
Whoever uses an information network, an IS, or any ITE with the intention of invading the privacy or sanctity of private or familial life of someone without his consent in cases other than those authorized by law through…
- Article 45 — Article (45) Disclosure of Confidential Information at Work
Whoever discloses any confidential information obtained at or because of his work or by virtue of his job or profession using one of the ITE without being authorized to disclose it, or without permission from the person …
- Article 46 — Article (46) Calling for and Promoting the Collection of Donations Without a License
Whoever creates, manages, or supervises a website or disseminates information on the information network or any ITE to call for or promote collection of donations without a licence approved by the competent authority or …
- Article 47 — Article (47) Conducting Statistical Surveys or Questionnaires Without a License
Whoever uses an information program, information network, or ITE to conduct statistical surveys or questionnaires without permit from the competent authority shall be punished with imprisonment and/ or a fine of not less…
- Article 48 — Article (48) Advertisements and Promotions Misleading the Consumers
Whoever uses an information network, any ITE, or a website to commit any of the following acts shall be punished with imprisonment and/ or a fine of not less than (AED 20,000) twenty thousand dirhams or more than (AED 50…
- Article 49 — Article (49) Promoting Medical Products without License
Whoever creates, manages, or supervises a website or publishes information on an information network or any ITE to promote or sell unlicensed medical products, or copies of licensed medical products shall be punished wit…
- Article 50 — Article (50) Unlawful Use of Communication Services or Broadcast Channels
Whoever uses or helps third parties use communication services of audio or video broadcast channels unlawfully through the use of information network or any ITE shall be punished with imprisonment for at least one year a…
- Article 51 — Article (51) Cyberbegging
Whoever commits the crime of begging using any ITE through mendicity or any other form or means shall be punished with imprisonment for not more than (3) three months and/ or a fine of not less than (AED 10,000) ten thou…
- Article 52 — Part Two: Crimes Of Spreading Rumors and False News: Article (52) Spreading Rumors and False News
1. Whoever uses the information network or any ITE to announce, disseminate, re-disseminate, circulate, or recirculate false news or data, or false, tendentious, misleading or erroneous rumors or reports, or rumors or re…
- Article 53 — Article (53) Making Available and Refraining from Removing Illegal Content
Whoever uses a website or electronic account to commit any of the following acts shall be punished with a fine of not less than (AED 300,000) three hundred thousand dirhams or more than (AED 1,000,000) one million dirham…
- Article 54 — Article (54) Creating or Modifying E-robots To Disseminate False Data inside the UAE
Whoever creates or modifies an e-robot with the intention of disseminating, re-disseminating, or circulating false data or news inside the UAE, or enabling third parties to disseminate, re-disseminate or circulate it sha…
- Article 55 — Article (55) Obtaining a Gift in Return for Spreading Illegal Content or False Data
Whoever requests, accepts or takes, directly or indirectly, or is promised of a materialistic of non-materialistic gift or benefit, whether inside or outside the UAE, in return for publishing or re-publishing illegal con…
- Article 56 — Measures Forfeiture Penalty: Article (56)
Without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties, in the event of being convicted, the devices, programs, or means used in committing any of the crimes stipulated in this Decree-Law, or the funds obtained from …
- Article 57 — Article (57) Penalty for Attempted Misdemeanor
Attempted misdemeanors stipulated in this Decree-Law shall be subject to half of the penalty prescribed for the committed crime.
- Article 58 — Article (58) The Penalty for the Person Responsible for De Facto Management of the Legal Person
The person responsible for the actual management of the legal person shall be punished with the same penalties prescribed for the acts committed in violation of the provisions of this Decree-Law if it is proven that he w…
- Article 59 — Article (59) Punitive Measures
Upon rendering a judgment of conviction of any of the crimes stipulated in this Decree-Law, the court may decide to take any of the following measures: 1. Order that the convict be placed under electronic supervision or …
- Article 60 — Article (60) Aggravating Circumstances
In implementation of the provisions of this Decree-Law, the following shall constitute aggravating circumstances: 1. The offender commits any of the crimes stipulated in this Decree-Law during or due to the performance o…
- Article 61 — Article (61) Exemption from Punishment
1. At the request of the Attorney General, the court may reduce or exempt from the punishment if the offender provides the judicial or administrative authorities with information related to any of the crimes stipulated i…
- Article 62 — Article (62) Writs to Correct, Interrupt, Disable and Block Access
In respect of the crimes stipulated in Article (71) of this Decree-Law, the competent authorities may, either sua sponte or at the request of the Prosecutor-General, issue any of the writs stipulated in this Decree-Law i…
- Article 63 — Article (63) Grievance and Appeal Against Orders
Any person against whom any of the writs stipulated in this Decree-Law have been issued may file a grievance against them through filing of a grievance with the competent authorities within (3) three working days from th…
- Article 64 — Article (64) Cases of Non-Absence of Criminal Liability
In implementation of the provisions of this Decree-Law, the following shall not be considered as grounds for absence of criminal liability: 1. The person is subject to a duty under any legislation, legal rule, contract o…
- Article 65 — Article (65) Probative Force of Evidence
The evidence derived or extracted from electronic devices, equipment, media, or drives, information system, computer programs, or from any ITE shall have the same probative force of physical forensic evidence as a crimin…
- Article 66 — Article (66) Powers of the Attorney General
1. In the cases where the criminal case lapses due to amicable settlement or compromise in accordance with the provisions of this Decree-Law, the Attorney General may order that the accused be placed under supervision or…
- Article 67 — Article (67) Amicable Settlement
Either the court or the Public Prosecution, as the case may be, may accept amicable settlement with the person accused in the crimes stipulated in Articles (13), (19), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), (47), (48), (49), (50)…
- Article 68 — Article (68) Invoking Amicable Settlement with the Victim
In the crimes stipulated in Articles (2) Clause (1), (6) Clause (1), (9) Clause (1), (11) Clause (1), (42) Clause (1), (43), (44) and (45) of this Decree-Law, the accused may invoke the amicable settlement taking place w…
- Article 69 — Article (69) Entry into Force
Without prejudice to the provisions of the aforementioned Penal Code, the provisions of this Decree-Law shall apply to everyone who commits any of the crimes stipulated in this Decree-Law outside the UAE in the following…
- Article 70 — Article (70) Judicial Officers
The employees, upon whom the capacity of judicial officers is conferred pursuant to a resolution by the Minister of Justice or the head of the local judicial entity, as applicable, may detect and detect the acts committe…
- Article 71 — Article (71) Crimes against the security of the UAE
The crimes mentioned in Articles (3), (5), (7), (11) Clause (3), (12) Clause (3), (13), (19), (20), (21), (22), (23), (24), (25), (26), (27), (28), (47) Para (II), (52), (53) and (55) of this Decree-Law shall be classifi…
- Article 72 — Article (72) Imposition of the More Severe Punishment
Imposition of the penalties stipulated in this Decree-Law shall not prejudice any more severe penalty stipulated in the Penal Code or any other law.
- Article 73 — Article (73) Repeals
The Decree-Law No. (5) of 2012 on Combating Cybercrimes is hereby repealed. In addition, any provision shall also be repealed to the extent that they contradict or contravene with the provisions of this Decree-Law.
- Article 74 — Article (74) Publication and Entry of the Decree-Law into Force
This Decree-Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall enter into force as of 02 January, 2022A.D.