The legal landscape for content in the UAE, as with many territories, is complex. Each country has its own priorities in balancing the right of speech against the right to privacy and respect.

In this article we will review some of the UAE legislation that applies to online content and the penalties that may arise, focusing particularly on photographs.

There has been much written about the use of photographs in social media, most of which has left the public with more questions.  Is it possible for a person to post a photograph of another person without their consent?  How should that consent be obtained? If the person knows that the photograph is being taken, is that enough? What if they know it is being taken and that it is for the social pages of a magazine?  Can you then publish?