Questions & Answers
Is it illegal to take photos or videos of people or public places in the UAE?
Will you please share a certain law (if there are any) concerning photography/videography in Dubai?
I think there's a myth that exists that nobody can take pictures of people in public, certain buildings, police officers, etc.
Thank you for your time.
Dear User,
Taking pictures or videos of individuals without their consent is regarded as an illegal act according to the UAE Penal Code, articles 378 and 379, and the UAE cybercrime law article 21.
The reason is that it can be considered a breach of privacy. Furthermore, Article 43 of the UAE Copyright Law states that one who takes a photo or video can not distribute it without the consent of those appearing in the photo. It is also prohibited to take both internal or external photos of governmental institutions and/or military sites.
There are some exceptions such as public events or if publication of the photograph is permitted by the UAE authorities for their interest.
In some cases, taking photos or videos in public with your smartphone is more acceptable than taking them with a professional camera.
In conclusion, always be aware of your surroundings, and if you want to take photos it is important to always ask for permission.
Kind regards,
KHA Advocates
Taking photos in public is allowed, including people in it, unless the photo is focused on a certain group of people or one himself.
You can find this in the penal code of the UAE number 31 of 2021.
