Reminder: an insulting WhatsApp voice note just cost someone Dh30,000 in Abu Dhabi — private messages count under UAE cybercrime law

An Abu Dhabi court has fined a woman Dh30,000, plus Dh21,000 in temporary compensation, for sending an insulting voice note to a former colleague on WhatsApp.

The background: the other person couldn't answer repeated calls, and then received a voice message with insults and profanity. The sender said it was a moment of frustration with no intent to harm, and pointed to their friendship. The court didn't accept that — it ruled that a personal relationship doesn't exempt you when explicit insults are recorded digitally.

A few points worth knowing if you live here:

• UAE cybercrime law (Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021, amended in 2024) covers private messages and group chats, not just public posts.
• A voice note or screenshot is treated as material evidence. Deleted content can often still be recovered.
• Raising a complaint or saying you're upset is fine. Profanity or insults aimed at a person are where it becomes criminal.
• If someone abuses you online, the advice is to save the evidence and report it through official police channels rather than firing back.

The practical takeaway is boring but real: don't send anything in anger that you wouldn't want read out in court.