If you’re thinking about visiting Dubai or relocating there for a job, it’s important to remember some dos and don’ts. Dubai is mainly a Muslim country, which means it has traditions and laws that differ from other places. To make your time in Dubai enjoyable for all the right reasons, one of the things that you should pay attention to it is about swearing. Can you swear in Dubai? Using bad language in public can lead to a 30-day prison sentence for travelers in Dubai. Swearing is also against the law in Dubai and may lead to imprisonment or deportation, as it is viewed as an obscene behavior according to legal standards. Let indubaimall explain more about this topic in this guide.
Legal Framework and Context
When you grasp the laws, rules, and regulations of Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and recognize the cultural differences, you can access a remarkable lifestyle in Dubai and steer clear of problems with the legal authorities there. Is swearing illegal in UAE? Just like anywhere else, using profanity in public is considered disrespectful and impolite. Swearing in Dubai law is considered a criminal offence, unlike in some countries where it is a civil matter. The law forbids swearing and offensive gestures in Dubai, considering them “obscene acts” according to the UAE criminal code, which can lead to fines or jail time. This rule applies to both face-to-face and online interactions, that is including messages sent on platforms such as WhatsApp.
Article 373 of the UAE Penal Code
Swearing in public is strictly forbidden in the UAE, with the F-word classified as a crime because it “disgraces the honor or the modesty” of an individual, as stated in Article 373 of the UAE Penal Code. Offenders can face up to a year in prison and fines reaching 10,000 dirhams (£2,160). Showing your middle finger, deemed an “indecent gesture” that violates “a victim’s pride, privacy and/or modesty”, can lead to deportation.
UAE Cybercrime Law and Digital Offenses
A new law in the UAE has made it illegal to use swear words or abusive language in text messages. Anyone found guilty of this could be fined up to $68,000 (AED250,000) and may also face jail time. Expats could be deported from the UAE under this cybercrime law. This law was highlighted during a Federal Supreme Court session when a public prosecutor successfully requested a retrial for an Arab man who was fined $816 (AED3,000) for swearing at a coworker in a WhatsApp message. The same rules apply if a resident sends a middle finger emoji in a text.
Penalties for Swearing
Can you swear in Dubai? As mentioned earlier, swearing is a crime in the UAE, and if that person is a public official, the severity of the crime increases. Therefore, the punishment for this is also more severe. Here are punishments for swearing in Dubai according to different situations in UAE that we will discuss in the following parts:
Verbal Profanity in Public
If someone is offended by verbal profanity in Dubai in public whether they happen face-to-face or online, they can report it at the closest police station or use official methods. After that, authorities may ask for CCTV footage, look at chat histories, and talk to witnesses. The insult doesn’t have to happen in public—a rude private message can also be sufficient. Once a case is initiated, it becomes a situation between the accused and the public prosecutor. Even if someone apologizes, it might not halt the process, especially if there is evidence. Therefore, expats are often encouraged to get legal advice right away if they get any notice from the police or if someone warns them about a report. Dubai laws and punishments of this kind of swearing can lead to fines or jail time.
Rude Gestures
In Dubai, showing rude gestures is seen as a serious crime, and the consequences can involve fines, jail time, deportation, or a mix of these, based on how severe the act is. Rude gestures are not permitted and may lead to a monetary penalty or potentially incarceration.
Swearing Online or in Messages
The legal authorities in the UAE have warned the public about stricter penalties for using offensive language or insulting others online. It is illegal to curse or defame someone online, which includes social media sites and messaging apps like WhatsApp. Violations may result in penalties such as fines ranging from AED 25,000 to AED 500,000 (about $6,800 to $136,000), imprisonment, and deportation for those who are not citizens.
