An Abu Dhabi court has ordered a woman to pay AED 30,000 in compensation after finding her guilty of insulting another woman through social media posts and private messages, causing emotional distress.
The Abu Dhabi Family, Civil, and Administrative Claims Court also ruled that the defendant must cover all legal fees and related expenses, according to a report by Emarat Al Youm.
The case was prompted by a civil lawsuit filed by the victim, who said she endured psychological harm after the defendant posted offensive comments on her photos and sent her abusive messages via a social networking app. A separate criminal case had earlier resulted in the defendant’s conviction.
The victim initially sought AED 150,000 in compensation for both emotional and financial damages. However, the court granted only the moral damages, citing the absence of evidence for material losses.
In its ruling, the court stressed its authority to assess the facts and evidence of each case, and confirmed that documents from the criminal proceedings showed the defendant used “insulting language through an electronic means of communication.”
The court highlighted that moral harm includes damage to dignity, feelings, and reputation, and cited the UAE Civil Transactions Law which states: “Anyone who causes harm to another must compensate for the damage.”
