Two Filipino women are among 25 foreign nationals ordered arrested by UAE Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi for allegedly publishing harmful digital content amid the military tensions currently facing the country.
The group — which also includes 17 Indians, two Pakistanis, two Nepalese, one Egyptian, and one Bangladeshi — has been referred to an expedited trial on charges related to spreading misleading information and glorifying acts of military aggression against the UAE.
Authorities said the arrests stemmed from sustained electronic surveillance of social media platforms, through which investigators identified three distinct categories of prohibited conduct.
One set of defendants allegedly filmed and circulated genuine footage of missile activity in UAE airspace, adding commentary and sound effects that prosecutors say were designed to amplify public fear and potentially expose the country’s defensive capabilities to hostile actors.
A second group is accused of fabricating content using artificial intelligence — generating synthetic scenes of explosions and missile strikes — and passing off footage from other countries as incidents occurring within the UAE. Investigators noted that some of these clips incorporated national flags and specific dates to lend the false material an appearance of credibility.
The third category involves defendants who allegedly promoted the regional aggressor state, framing its military operations as achievements and circulating content that praises its leadership — material prosecutors describe as serving hostile propaganda interests.
Dr. Al Shamsi said exploiting digital platforms to distribute content that undermines public security or compromises national defence constitutes a criminal offence under UAE law, and that the context of active military aggression makes such conduct especially serious. All 25 defendants have been placed in preventive detention while investigations continue.
