Dubai Online Reviews: What You Can Legally Post Now

Dubai online reviews are in the spotlight after fake Google Maps reviews led to arrests. What the law says, how to review safely and where to complain.

A one-star review takes about thirty seconds to write. In Dubai, where online reviews steer where visitors eat, stay and book, a dishonest one can end with a visit from the police. This week, Dubai Police confirmed that a group of people had been arrested for posting fake, negative Google Maps reviews about a company they had never visited, and the case has been passed to the Public Prosecution.

Even so, that does not mean visitors and residents should stop sharing their views. Honest feedback is welcome, and it keeps restaurants, hotels and tour operators on their toes. However, the line between a fair review and an unlawful one is drawn more firmly here than in many other countries. This guide explains where that line sits, so that the Dubai online reviews you write help other people rather than land you in trouble.

Table of Contents

Dubai Online Reviews: What Dubai Police Announced

The story broke on Monday 12 October, when Gulf News and Khaleej Times reported comments made on the Dubai Police Podcast. Early on Tuesday 13 October, Khaleej Times followed up with a fuller account of the warning. Arabian Business had not covered the case at the time of writing.

According to both newspapers, the key facts are these:

A company’s management complained after a run of negative Google Maps reviews began to hurt its business.
Investigators found that several commercial shops had allegedly formed groups to post false comments about the company.
Those involved had posted reviews without ever visiting the premises.
Dubai Police identified the people behind the accounts, arrested them and referred the case to the Public Prosecution.

Major Yasser Juma Mohammed, head of the Social Media Crimes Section, explained the principle simply. People are free to express opinions online. They must not, however, use that freedom to damage another person’s or a business’s reputation. Moreover, he warned that fake accounts offer no real protection, because officers are trained to trace them.

White and green Dubai Police patrol car parked in a car park, illustrating the police role in Dubai online reviews and social media crime cases — A Dubai Police patrol car in the force’s familiar green-and-white livery. The force’s Social Media Crimes Section handled the fake Google Maps reviews case. Photo: Reubentg, Wikimedia Commons, public domain (cropped).

What the UAE Cybercrime Law Says About Dubai Online Reviews

The rules behind the case sit in Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes, which came into force on 2 January 2022. Because it is a federal law, it applies in Dubai to residents and tourists alike. Two articles matter most for Dubai online reviews, photos and comments.

Article 43 (insult and defamation): using a website, app or social network to insult someone, or to accuse them of something that would expose them to punishment or contempt, can lead to imprisonment, a fine of between Dh250,000 and Dh500,000, or both.
Article 44 (privacy): invading someone’s privacy without consent, including photographing people and sharing the images, carries at least six months in prison, a fine of Dh150,000 to Dh500,000, or both.
Truth is not always a defence: Article 44 also covers publishing true information or images when the intention is to harm the person.

In addition, the same law treats spreading and resharing rumours as a separate offence. Dubai Police stressed this point in the podcast, noting that responsibility can extend to people who forward a claim, not only to those who first post it.

Please treat this section as general guidance rather than legal advice. Outcomes depend on the facts, and only the courts decide penalties.

Honest Feedback Versus Defamation in Dubai Online Reviews

Fortunately, ordinary, fair criticism is not the target. The Google Maps case was about invented reviews, written by people with a commercial motive and no real experience of the business. Similarly, Google’s Maps policy bans fake engagement and reviews posted to undermine a competitor, yet it explicitly allows negative experiences described respectfully.

In practice, the difference between fair and unlawful Dubai online reviews usually comes down to three questions:

Did it happen? Describe what you saw, ate, paid or were told, not what you suspect.
Is it about the service or the person? “The room was not cleaned for two days” is feedback. Calling a named employee a thief is an accusation.
Why are you posting? Helping other customers is fine. Punishing a rival, or settling a score, is where the trouble starts.

How to Write Dubai Online Reviews That Stay on the Right Side of the Law

Whether you are reviewing a desert camp, a Marina brunch or a hotel in Deira, these habits keep your post useful and lawful:

Write only about places you have actually used, and post soon after your visit while the details are fresh.
Stick to facts and specifics: dates, what you ordered, how long you waited and how the problem was handled.
Leave out names, faces and personal details of staff or other guests.
Avoid insults, swearing and words such as “fraud” or “scam” unless a court or authority has said so.
Never accept payment, discounts or freebies in return for a review, and never post on behalf of a friend’s competitor.
Read the review again before you press publish, and ask whether you would be comfortable saying it to the manager face to face.

For many visitors, restaurants are the first places they review. If you are planning a special meal, our fine dining in Dubai guide is a good starting point, and a calm, factual review afterwards is far more persuasive than an angry one.

Hand holding a smartphone showing a map app outdoors, illustrating how visitors find and rate places through Dubai online reviews — Map apps are where many visitors find and rate restaurants, hotels and attractions. Photo: Santeri Viinamäki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped).

Photos and Videos in Dubai Online Reviews

The podcast also touched on a mistake that is far easier for visitors to make: filming strangers. Gulf News reported that filming someone without permission can lead to legal action if that person files a criminal complaint.

For travellers, therefore, the safest approach is straightforward:

Photograph buildings, food and views freely, but ask before you film or photograph people, especially women and children.
Do not post clips of arguments, accidents or police activity, even if they seem newsworthy.
Blur or crop out faces and number plates before you share a review photo.
During emergencies, follow official instructions and avoid sharing unverified images or videos.

If you want a wider refresher before a trip, our guides to Dubai laws for tourists and the seven rules for life in Dubai cover dress, behaviour and etiquette in more depth.

Resharing Rumours and Old Announcements

Forwarding a post feels harmless. Nevertheless, Dubai Police warned that people who reshare rumours can be held accountable, and Khaleej Times noted that even genuine government announcements can become misleading once rules change. Before you forward a screenshot about road closures, fines or new rules, check the date and confirm it on an official channel.

Treated Badly? Better Routes Than an Angry Post

If a business has genuinely let you down, a formal complaint often achieves more than a furious review. Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism runs the Consumer Rights complaints service for Dubai-licensed shops and service providers, and its call centre is on 600 545 555. Before you file, gather invoices, receipts, photos and messages, because they are the evidence the team will ask for.

However, some sectors, such as banking, insurance and real estate, are handled elsewhere. For example, our Dubai Police car insurance checks explain how to protect yourself before paying online.

Al Fanar restaurant at Al Seef in Dubai with a vintage blue Land Rover and camel figure outside, a heritage-style eatery that diners review online — Heritage-style restaurants at Al Seef attract plenty of online reviews from visitors. Photo: RPSkokie, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped).

If Your Business Is Hit by Fake Dubai Online Reviews

Equally, the case offers a practical lesson for restaurant owners, hotel managers and tour operators. Dubai Police acted after the company complained, and investigators were able to trace the accounts. If you suspect a coordinated attack, take these steps:

Screenshot every suspicious review with the date, the account name and the link.
Flag the reviews through Google Maps as fake or conflict-of-interest content.
Reply politely and briefly in public, without accusing the reviewer.
Report the pattern to Dubai Police through the eCrime Hub or the eCrime service on the Dubai Police website.

The eCrime Hub, launched by Dubai Police in July 2025 and described by WAM as an awareness and reporting platform, also has guidance for tourists on scams and account security.

Conclusion

Dubai online reviews still matter, and the arrests are not a reason to stay silent after a bad meal or a poor hotel stay. Instead, they are a reminder that Dubai treats online words at least as seriously as spoken ones, and the law often punishes them more heavily. Write about real experiences, keep it factual, leave people’s names and faces out, and use official complaint channels when something goes badly wrong. Do that, and your feedback will help the next visitor, which is the whole point of a review. Afterwards, explore old Dubai’s cafés along the Sheikh Rashid Heritage Trail or check our Dubai October 2026 guide for more ideas.

FAQ

Are negative Dubai online reviews illegal?

No. Honest, factual reviews of a real experience are allowed. The trouble starts with invented claims, insults, accusations of crimes and personal attacks.

What happened in the Google Maps reviews case?

Dubai Police arrested a group accused of posting fake negative reviews about a company to damage its business. They had never visited the premises, and the case has been referred to the Public Prosecution.

Which law covers online defamation in Dubai?

Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes. Article 43 covers insult and defamation, with fines of Dh250,000 to Dh500,000, imprisonment, or both.

Do the rules apply to tourists?

Yes, because the law is federal and applies to anyone in the UAE, whether they live in Dubai or are visiting for a weekend.

Can I post photos of other people in my review?

Avoid it. Filming or photographing people without consent can breach privacy law if they complain. Blur faces and number plates before sharing.

Where can I complain about a Dubai business instead?

Use the Department of Economy and Tourism’s Consumer Rights service online, or call 600 545 555. Keep your receipts and any messages as evidence.

Key Takeaways

Dubai Police arrested people who posted fake Google Maps reviews about a company they had never visited.
Honest, factual Dubai online reviews remain welcome; fake, insulting or malicious posts do not.
Online defamation under Article 43 carries fines of Dh250,000 to Dh500,000, imprisonment, or both.
Ask before filming people, and blur faces and number plates in review photos.
Use Consumer Rights or the Dubai Police eCrime Hub rather than an angry post.

Useful Links

Featured image: café terraces at Al Seef by Poorva90, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped).