Dh500,000 fine for taking photos or videos of others in UAE

Around 300 million photos get uploaded on Facebook every day and every second, at least 26 Instagram uploads. This photography bug seemed to have catch hold of everyone. Thanks to mobile phones or smartphones, every other person you meet on the road, or on the cafe, or anywhere for that matter, seem to be capturing one or the other moment around them. Privacy has become a strange term once you are in public space. But, if you are in any chance anywhere in the UAE, don’t try to focus your camera on others. If you do, it will end you up in paying a hefty fine or may even land you in jail.

Taking photos or shooting videos of others is an invasion of their privacy, and can lead to a fine between Dh150,000 and Dh500,000, in addition to a minimum of a one-year jail term.

Dubai Police has arrested a man for filming another person crying at a Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) customer care centre. The accused also posted the footage on social networking sites, where the video soon went viral.

Dubai Police has also warned residents not to take photos and videos of other people without requesting their permission, as doing so is a crime punishable by law. According to Federal Decree Law No. 5 of 2012 of the Cybercrime Law, residents who breach the privacy of others can face a hefty fine between Dh150,000 and Dh500,000, in addition to at least one year in jail.