Q: I hired a maid from an agency in December. The maid did emotional and physical damage to my family. I wrote a bad review of the agency on Google Maps, Facebook, and Instagram. Now the agency is harassing me every day asking me to delete it. They blocked me on Instagram. When I refused, they offered me 500 AED. I refused and said no. Now they are threatening me that they will file a case against me for defamation! Is this considered defamation under UAE law?

Q: Can a business based in Germany sue a customer based in Dubai for defamation because of a google review based on facts? What are the possibilities and does Dubai allow foreigners to sue?

Q: We are food bloggers and were invited by a restaurant to review their food. Once we arrived, the owner said she did not know of this. When we showed her the written confirmation from her husband she refused to accept it. They wasted our time and money, making us come all the way to her restaurant just to be told to get out. She was becoming hostile so my sister took out her phone to take a video of her screaming at us. But when the lady noticed the phone she attacked my sister. She pulled and scratched her very badly. She left a big mark on my sister’s arm. When the police came we were told to delete the video which we did in front of them itself. Once the police left, she threatened us that if we ever mention this to someone, post about it on Instagram, or leave a bad review on Zomato, that they will take us to court. Can she do this? I only want to write an honest review on Zomato where I explain our situation and post the pictures of my sisters arm. Or can she make a case on us?

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, Can a clinic and a doctor sue me for defamation if I mention the doctor's name in a negative review of the clinic on Google Maps? Also if they were to proceed with legal action, as they are threatening to do so if I don’t take the review down, how would that affect me as I am not a resident in Dubai and only visit once every 6 months?

Q: Hi, Good Evening! I was working with a company, and I have started my own company. Now, we have done a hood cleaning in a hotel and later there was a fire that was not caused by us. The hotel owner did not have any problem and we don't have any case. My old company employer is sending fake news with a photo of our company certificate saying that civil defense has taken our license and contract. He is sending this to all hotels and facility management clients. He is trying to spoil the company name and mislead the customers.

Q: What are the consequences of employees posting fake favorable reviews of business online, please? I can see a lot of information for posting bad reviews with regards to slander, I am struggling to find courses of action and punishments related to creating fake favorable reviews.

Q: Dear Lawyers, A cleaning company is threatening to sue me if I don’t take down my Google review. All I did was share my experience without using any curse words, insults, or specific names. In my review, I wrote, "I saw the cleaner use the mop to clean the toilet; I’m not sure if it was the same one used on the floor. I was surprised and disgusted—that’s why I stopped using their services." The company claims it’s baseless, clearly defamatory, and intended to harm their excellent corporate reputation. They’re now intimidating me to take it down.

This Law promulgates the Federal Penal Code (Criminal Law) of the United Arab Emirates. Crimes and chastisement punishments shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other penal codes.

The Law sets up the legal framework for the protection of consumer rights in the UAE. The Law establishes the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection and the Consumer Protection Department, and sets up the fines for breach of its provisions.

The provisions of this Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law, known as the "New UAE Penal Code", governs criminal actions in the United Arab Emirates. The New Penal Code repeals the previous UAE Penal Code (Federal Law No. (3) of 1987 Promulgating the Penal Code).