19 Indians Among 35 Held In UAE Over Misleading Content Amid West Asia Conflict

Last Updated:March 16, 2026, 08:11 IST

The move follows rigorous monitoring of digital platforms to combat the spread of fabricated information and artificial content intended to incite public disorder.

The United Arab Emirates on Sunday ordered the arrest of 35 individuals, including 19 Indians, for publishing misleading and fabricated video clips on social media amid rising regional tensions linked to the war involving Israel, the United States and Iran.

According to the UAE’s official news agency WAM, those detained have been referred for an expedited trial. The latest list includes 25 individuals of different nationalities — among them 17 Indians — and is separate from 10 people, including two Indians, whose arrests were ordered on Saturday, news agency PTI reported.

According to a statement released by the Attorney-General Dr Hamad Saif Al Shams, the move follows rigorous monitoring of digital platforms to combat the spread of fabricated information and artificial content intended to incite public disorder and undermine general stability.

“Investigations and electronic monitoring revealed that the defendants were divided into three groups that committed various acts. These included the publication of real clips related to current events, the fabrication of clips using AI, and the promotion of a state practising acts of military aggression while glorifying its leadership and military actions," it said.

Investigations found that the accused were divided into three groups. The first group shared real video clips showing the interception of missiles over UAE airspace or gatherings of people watching such events, but added commentary and sound effects suggesting active attacks, which authorities said could cause public panic and expose the country’s defence capabilities.

This group comprised five Indians, one Pakistani, one Nepali, two Filipinos, and one Egyptian.

A second group was accused of publishing AI-generated visuals or reusing footage from incidents outside the UAE while falsely claiming they occurred within the country. According to officials, these clips showed scenes of explosions and missile strikes with national flags or dates added to make the claims appear credible.

This group, comprising seven individuals, includes five Indians and one each from Nepal and Bangladesh.

The third group allegedly circulated content praising a hostile state and its political and military leadership, portraying its military actions in the region as achievements. Authorities said such posts promoted hostile narratives and harmed national interests.

In this, five of the six accused are Indians, and one is Pakistani.

Two other individuals, both Indians, also face charges for similar offences, the statement said.

Officials said the offences are punishable under UAE law with at least one year in prison and a minimum fine of AED 100,000.

“Such events have been exploited to disseminate misinformation intended to deliberately mislead the public while undermining national security, order and stability," he said.

Meanwhile, in Iran, authorities said around 500 people have been arrested for allegedly sharing information with enemies during the ongoing conflict. Police chief Ahmadreza Radan said some of the cases involved individuals accused of providing target information or filming strike locations and sending them to adversaries.

Iranian media reported additional arrests across several regions, including people accused of sharing location details of military assets or collecting information on sensitive infrastructure, as the conflict in the region continues to escalate.

(With inputs from agencies)

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