Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I lived in a building where the real estate management person was rude and unhelpful. I faced issues like cockroach infestation, AC problems, seepage, and more, which I have evidence of through pictures and videos. I posted a Google review mentioning his name, stating he is the worst person I've encountered in 10 years. He has filed a complaint with the Dubai police. I have since removed the Google review and apologized in front of the police. However, he insists on harassing me and threatening legal action. How should I handle this situation?

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: 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: I would like to seek help from a lawyer. One person is continuously abusing and threatening me and my family over WhatsApp by sending a voice note in my mother tongue from a UAE number but unfortunately, I am out of the UAE. Can I take action against him in the UAE? Thank you

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I am running a clinic in Dubai. I hired a doctor a few months ago, but she failed to perform the work for which she was hired, so I fired her. Now, she is leaving fake reviews on Google, and she is also doing this with her friends. I have contacted her, but she has left the country. Please advise on what we can do! Thank you!

Q: Dear concern, We booked a photography company last month for my son's birthday party, and the service from the photographer was really disappointing. We posted a Google review stating our disappointment. Later, the company contacted us through WhatsApp to remove the review to avoid legal cases. We removed it, informing them that we would repost it after seeking legal advice. Could you please help me?

Q: We are a business in Dubai, UAE and 2 years ago we had an unpleasant experience with a company in Ajman that had taken advance from us. After confirming everything and also taking the advance, they increased the prices by more than 60% and told us it was due to the raw material price increase and gave very vague reasons. So they gave us our deposit back but because of them, our order was also canceled and caused a lot of problems for us. So we gave them a Google review and wrote what happened. This happened 2 years ago and now, suddenly this company messaged us yesterday that they are filing a case against us for the review which we had given on Google. At that time he had also replied to the review but anyway, after 2 years, he wanted to file a case because we thought of a new law that says you cannot write a bad review of a company. But can he file a case for review which was 2 years old and he is just filing now because he wants to take advantage of the new law? What are our options? Apologies for the long read.

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.