أسئلة وأجوبة
Can I be sued for posting an honest 1-star review about an upsetting experience?
Hello,
I recently made a Google review (and gave 1 star) regarding a grooming gone wrong to my fur baby's long, beautiful coat. Everything was done badly and so wrong; it was so upsetting and disappointing.
The owner reached out and gave some free vitamins to my baby boy and even offered to share my résumé with his contacts because I am currently searching for a job.
After an hour, the owner called asking me to delete my review. I messaged him not to pressure me or force me into doing something I don’t want to do, and told him I didn’t expect he wanted me to delete the review in exchange for the vitamins he gave for my fur baby.
I updated my review and mentioned that I appreciated the gesture. But he called again, threatening that his business partner might file a case against me.
Can they really do that to me, even if I didn’t directly ask for the vitamins and I didn’t say any bad word against their company?
I just made an honest review based on an upsetting and frustrating grooming service.
Dear Inquirer,
Thank you for reaching out!
Based on what you shared, leaving an honest review about a personal experience, without using defamatory language or false claims, is generally protected under UAE law.
However, if someone files a complaint alleging defamation or damage to reputation, you could be summoned, and the matter might escalate legally.
Since you received a threat of legal action, it is important to understand your rights and prepare accordingly.
We recommend booking a consultation with Future Vision for Advocacy and Legal Consultancy so we can review the details, assess any risks, and guide you on the appropriate legal response or defense.
Book your consultation today for professional legal support.
Hello,
While you may have posted an honest review based on your personal experience, it is important to be aware that under UAE law, publishing negative comments online, even if truthful, may expose you to legal consequences.
This is particularly the case if the review is deemed to harm the reputation of a business or individual, as it may be classified under defamation, insult, or slander according to the Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes.
Even without using offensive words, the mere act of publicly criticising a service in a way that damages a company’s image may lead to a criminal complaint.
In practice, UAE courts do see cases filed over Google Reviews and similar posts, and many individuals are prosecuted for negative feedback even if they believe it was fair and accurate.
Therefore, as a precaution, I advise avoiding negative online reviews in the UAE and instead handling complaints directly with the company or through official consumer protection channels.
If you prefer to have a direct discussion, please let me know, and I will guide you on how we may proceed.
Alternatively, if you require further clarification, you may kindly share your WhatsApp number here so that I can provide more detailed assistance.
Dear Questioner,
Thank you for reaching out!
Under UAE law, online reviews and social media comments can sometimes lead to legal issues, particularly if they are perceived as defamatory or damaging to a business’s reputation.
Even if your intention was to provide honest feedback based on your experience, it is important to ensure that the review does not include any language that could be interpreted as insulting, defamatory, or exaggerated, as per UAE’s Cybercrime Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021).
That said, simply sharing a factual and respectful account of your experience is generally considered acceptable.
If the review was not abusive, contained no false claims, and was written without malicious intent, a legal case against you may be difficult to sustain.
Offering you products or assistance and then asking you to delete the review could raise ethical concerns, but it is not in itself illegal.
However, if you continue to feel pressured or threatened, we recommend preserving all communication and seeking legal advice.
Should you wish, we can assist you further by reviewing your case and advising on the best course of action.
Please let us know how you'd like to proceed.
Kind regards,
Mohammed Salah
Legal Consultant
Generally, if your review is factual, based on your genuine experience, does not contain abusive language, vulgarity, or false accusations designed to harm the business's reputation maliciously, it should be protected as a consumer's right to express an opinion.
The owner's initial offer (vitamins, job help), followed by an immediate request to delete the review, can be seen as an attempt to influence or manipulate your review.
While not explicitly illegal for them to ask, linking a gesture of goodwill directly to review removal is questionable.
If your review is an honest recount of a poor service and an opinion on the outcome, it's very difficult for them to prove falsehood or malicious intent.
If you need further clarification, we will discuss more. Kindly share your WhatsApp number to proceed with us.
There is nothing in your review that, as you describe, constitutes defamation or slander.
Any baseless threat of legal action may constitute blackmail or undue pressure.
You can easily defend yourself if a lawsuit is filed, and you may even sue them for abuse.
For assistance, please contact us via phone or WhatsApp at [-----------].
