...while expatriates could also be deported from the UAE under “a new Federal law”.

The news report related to a decision of the UAE's Federal Supreme Court, which overturned two lower court sentences fining a man AED3,000 after he was convicted of swearing at another on WhatsApp.  The Court reportedly supported an appeal by the public prosecutor who argued that the sentences were too lenient and did not conform to the new laws that include a penalty of AED250,000 or imprisonment for those involved in online offences.

Please be clear. We did not represent any of the parties to this Court case. While we do not have access to all the relevant facts or the Court's judgment, the commentary set out in this article is based on what was reported in the media and our experience and knowledge of the relevant laws.