Authorities in the UAE have warned residents against sharing rumours, false information, or misleading content online, stressing that such actions are illegal and can result in serious penalties.

Dubai Police reminded residents that posting or forwarding content that contradicts official announcements or spreads misinformation is strictly prohibited. The authority added that sharing misleading posts that could cause public panic or threaten safety, security, or public health is considered a criminal offence.

Violators may face imprisonment for at least two years and fines starting at Dh200,000, according to authorities.

Residents must verify information

The National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) has also urged residents to be cautious when sharing information online, especially during sensitive situations.

Officials noted that information spreads quickly during times of tension and not all circulating news may be accurate. Residents are advised to verify the source of any information before sharing it and rely only on updates from official government channels.

Sharing photos and videos of accident sites

UAE Attorney General Hamid Saif Al Shamsi warned residents against photographing or sharing images and videos of accident scenes or damage caused by falling debris.

Such content can create unnecessary panic and may give a misleading impression of the country’s safety conditions.

Al Shamsi stressed that public safety institutions across the UAE continue to operate effectively and daily life remains stable nationwide.

What does the UAE law say?

Spreading rumours or unverified information is a criminal offence under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrime.

Under Article 52 of the law, anyone who publishes or republishes false or misleading information that contradicts official announcements or harms public security can face:

• Up to two years in prison
• Fines of up to Dh200,000

Authorities reminded residents that even reposting or forwarding false information can lead to legal consequences, and urged the public to act responsibly when using social media.

Expats living in the UAE can now complete their medical fitness test for residency visa renewal from home, thanks to a new service launched by Emirates Health Services (EHS).

The new initiative, called “Residency Renewal from Home,” allows residents to complete the mandatory medical screening without visiting medical fitness centres.

Instead, a specialised medical team visits the applicant’s home at a scheduled time to conduct the required tests.

How to book home appointment

Under the new service, once a resident books an appointment, a medical team from Wiqayati preventive health centres visits their home to carry out the medical examination.

The tests are conducted following approved health procedures and strict safety standards to ensure accurate results.

After the screening is completed, residents will receive their medical fitness results through SMS or email. They can then continue their residency visa renewal process online through official government channels.

Who can use this service?

The home medical screening service is currently available only for residency visa renewal.

It is especially helpful for residents who:

• Prefer completing government procedures from home
• Have mobility challenges
• Have busy schedules and limited time to visit medical centres

By allowing medical tests to be done at home, authorities aim to make the residency renewal process faster and easier, improve customer experience and reduce crowding at medical fitness centres

The initiative also supports the UAE’s vision of smart healthcare services and a better quality of life for residents.

Dubai authorities have announced the Eid Al Fitr holidays for public sector employees in the emirate, ahead of the nationwide break marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

In a statement, Dubai Government’s Human Resources Department said government employees will receive a four-day holiday from Thursday, March 19, to Sunday, March 22. Official working hours will resume on Monday, March 23.

The UAE will sight the crescent moon of the Hijri month of Shawwal on Wednesday, March 18, after Maghrib prayers to determine the start of Eid Al Fitr, as the Islamic calendar follows the lunar cycle.

Earlier, the UAE’s Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced the Eid Al Fitr holiday schedule for federal government entities and the private sector.

For federal government employees, the holiday will run from Thursday, March 19, 2026, until Sunday, March 22, 2026, with work resuming on Monday, March 23.

Private sector employees will observe the holiday from Thursday, March 19, until Saturday, March 21. Employees who normally work on Sundays are expected to return to work on Sunday, March 22.

Authorities also noted that if Ramadan lasts 30 days, the private sector holiday will be extended to Sunday, March 22, aligning it with the public sector break.

Meanwhile, the UAE-based International Astronomy Centre has predicted that sighting the Shawwal crescent moon on March 18 will be impossible. This would mean Ramadan will complete 30 days, placing the first day of Eid Al Fitr on Friday, March 20 in the UAE and several other countries.

According to the centre, the crescent will not be visible because the moon will set before the sun and the conjunction will occur after sunset, making observation impossible on March 18.