Received a police call-up or summons over a post, message or review? Speak to a lawyer before you reply, delete anything or apologise.
Defamed, insulted or falsely accused, or reported over something you wrote or said? We advise both sides in plain English: the complaint, the evidence, removal, compensation and settlement.
Tell us what is happening in your own words. We will explain where you stand and what the sensible next step is.
If someone has published or said something false or insulting about you, or you have been told you are accused of doing that to someone else, a defamation lawyer in Dubai can tell you where you stand before you take a step you cannot undo. MBM advises both sides, in confidence, from the first screenshot to the police, Public Prosecution and the courts. Your first consultation is free and confidential, and you can begin by phone or WhatsApp if that feels easier. You do not have to work this out alone: we take the legal work off your shoulders, explain each step in plain English and make sure you always know where the matter stands.
The two sides of a defamation or insult matter look very different, so pick the one that matches you. This page covers defamation in Dubai, insults in person or online, false accusations, slander (spoken statements) and libel (written or published ones). People who search for a "slander lawyer Dubai" or a "libel lawyer Dubai" usually mean the same practical thing, and the first questions are the same whichever word is used: what exactly was said, where, who saw it and what proof exists.
Someone has said, written or posted something false or insulting about you, or has made a false complaint. First we check: the exact words, where they appeared, who saw them and what proof you already have. See what to do if you were defamed or insulted, or talk to us about a false statement.
A complaint has been made against you over a post, comment, review, message, voice note or something you said. First we check: what the complaint actually says, who made it and whether the police have contacted you. See accused of defamation, or talk to us about a police call or summons.
Defamation, insult, slander and libel overlap, and the law in the UAE does not always use the words that people use in everyday speech. What matters in practice is what was said, whether it was false or abusive, who it reached and what evidence exists. The glossary below is a plain-English guide only.
Online conduct in the UAE is addressed principally under the country's dedicated cybercrime legislation, which, as we understand it, is Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes. Online and social media defamation can carry criminal exposure under that legislation, in addition to any separate civil claim for damages that may arise from the same conduct. Statements made offline can also give rise to a complaint, and the position under defamation law in the UAE depends on what was said, the context and the evidence. This page describes the general framework and is not advice on your matter. Laws and procedures change, so we confirm the current position with you at the first consultation.
The difference between defamation and insult affects what a complaint needs to show and how a defence is built. A statement that wrongly attributes conduct to someone is approached differently from plain abuse, and one message can contain both. We read the words themselves before saying which label is likely to be used, and we do not assume that a statement is safe because it is true or that it is serious because it is rude.
| Situation | How it is usually described | Where it is dealt with |
|---|---|---|
| False statements posted about a person or business | Online or social media defamation | Criminal complaint and, separately, a civil claim; see defamed or insulted |
| Abusive messages or a rude outburst | Insult, sometimes online harassment | Police report supported by saved messages; see WhatsApp and group chats |
| A false report made to the police or an employer | False accusation or false complaint | Police and Public Prosecution, with any civil claim alongside; see false accusations |
| A threat to publish something unless you pay or comply | Electronic blackmail or extortion | Police report and Public Prosecution; see threats and blackmail |
| A false review or fake account harming a business | Business defamation or online defamation | Platform removal request, complaint and civil claim; see business reputation |
| Insults or false claims between colleagues or with an employer | Workplace insult or false accusation | Internal process, labour route and, where relevant, criminal complaint; see work |
If you were defamed or insulted, the safest first moves are to preserve the proof, stop the damage getting worse and choose your route deliberately. We can look at the statements with you, explain what the author may be exposed to and plan the complaint, so that you are not left guessing whether to report, to demand removal or to negotiate.
Take screenshots that show the username, profile link, date, time and the full post or thread, and save the link. Record any video or voice note as received.
A reply written in anger can be turned into a complaint against you and can escalate the dispute. Keep contact to what is needed to preserve proof.
Write down who read or heard the statement, how many people were in the group or audience and how they can be reached, because the audience is part of the harm.
Do you want the content removed, an apology, compensation, a criminal complaint or a mix? The aim decides the route.
We help prepare the complaint, a removal request or a demand letter in the way most likely to be acted on, and tell you the realistic position before you commit.
Evidence in these cases is digital and can vanish within minutes. Keep the original messages on the device, and take clear screenshots rather than cropped ones. We will ask for the link, the account name, the date and time and the surrounding conversation, because context often decides whether a statement is treated as defamation, an insult or a joke. If a voice note was sent, keep the audio file itself and do not forward it around. Names and contact details of people who saw or heard the statement are useful, so note them now.
What we handle for the person affected:
A defamation complaint in Dubai is generally made to the police or the relevant e-crime channel, which records the complaint and may take statements, and then passes the file to Public Prosecution, which decides whether the matter goes to the criminal court. As we understand it, online matters can be reported through the Dubai Police eCrime platform (for Dubai), the Ministry of Interior eCrime service or the Public Prosecution's "My Safe Society" app. Channels change, so we confirm the current route at your first consultation. For a defamation complaint with Dubai Police, the quality of the evidence you bring matters, and a clear timeline makes the report easier to act on. If you want to know how to file a defamation case in Dubai for your own situation, the answer depends on whether the statement was online or offline, who made it and what outcome you want, which is why we ask before we draft anything.
Removal can be pursued by asking the platform, the page owner or the author to take the content down, and, where a complaint or claim is under way, by asking the authority or court to deal with it. To remove defamatory content, you usually need the link, the account details and an explanation of why the statement is false or abusive. We prepare that request, but we cannot promise that content will be removed or that a platform will act, and we say so before you commit.
The civil route is a claim for compensation, and it runs separately from any criminal complaint. As we understand it, compensation can include moral (emotional) harm as well as financial loss, although what can be claimed depends on the facts and the evidence. A civil defamation claim in Dubai needs a clear account of what was said, how it harmed you and what proof exists, such as a lost contract, a lost job or evidence of distress. We tell you honestly whether the loss is likely to justify the cost and delay, and we coordinate with MBM's civil litigation team. See our civil lawyer page and our page on court representation.
Many of these disputes end in an apology, a written undertaking to delete the content and sometimes a payment. In some categories of offence a complaint may be capable of withdrawal, waiver or settlement between the parties, depending on the law and the stage the matter has reached. Whether that is open in your case is a question for your first consultation. Any settlement should be written down, signed and clear about what each side gives up, because a signed document can waive claims you did not know you had.
Defamed, insulted or falsely accused in Dubai? Send us the screenshots and we will tell you what to keep and which route to consider. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
If the police have contacted you about something you posted, said or wrote, speak to a lawyer before you reply, give a statement or attend an interview. A person who is accused of defamation in Dubai often has no idea what the complaint says, and the first job is to find out. Whether a particular statement amounts to defamation or an insult depends on what it said, the context and the evidence, so do not assume either that you are safe or that you are in serious trouble.
Our advice begins with which route the complaint has taken. Depending on the facts and the current law, a complaint over a post, comment, message, review or spoken remark can lead to a criminal complaint, a separate civil claim for compensation, or both. Other consequences can follow while a complaint is open, including a restriction on travel, and for a non-national a conviction can lead to deportation, so the immigration side is considered alongside the defence. We do not quote penalties on a web page, because they depend on the exact provision, the facts and the law as it stands. We explain the realistic exposure after we have read the complaint and the words complained of.
If you are accused of insulting someone in Dubai, it usually means that a person has complained about words said in person, by message or in a chat. Insults often arise in a heated moment between neighbours, colleagues, drivers, family members or business partners, and the other side may later regret or exaggerate what was said. We look at the words, the setting, who heard them and any recording, and at whether the complaint is genuine, mistaken or retaliatory.
If you receive a call-up, summons or notice, keep the original, note the date and the authority, and call us before you attend. A missed appearance can make things worse, and a restriction can follow it. Whether and how a lawyer can take part in questioning depends on the authority and the stage, so ask us before the date. A person who has received a summons for defamation in Dubai should not give an informal explanation by phone or message first, because that can later be treated as a statement.
Do not delete the post, comment, chat or account before you have advice. Deleting may look like an admission or an attempt to hide evidence, and it can destroy material that helps you, such as the context, the replies and the time. In some cases removal is sensible, and a lawyer can advise on when and how to do it properly, for example as part of an apology or settlement. Never delete messages from the other side, and never edit anything that exists.
An apology can sometimes resolve a complaint, but it carries risk if it is made carelessly. A badly worded apology can be read as an admission, and an informal deal can fall apart if it is not written down. We help you decide whether an apology is wise, how it should be worded and how to record a settlement or waiver so that the complainant's position is clear. As with any criminal matter, in some categories of offence a complaint may be capable of withdrawal or settlement between the parties, depending on the law and the stage the matter has reached.
A complaint that is open with the police or Public Prosecution can affect your ability to leave the country, so do not assume that you can travel. A restriction of this kind generally follows the case: it may last while the matter is open and may be reviewed when the case is decided or closed. If there is a travel ban for defamation, or you suspect one, see our page on a travel ban lawyer in Dubai, and for the wider picture on bail and warrants see travel ban, bail and Interpol. If you are abroad when a complaint is made, ask for advice before you return.
What we handle for the person accused:
For the broader picture on rights and procedure, see our page on a criminal lawyer in Dubai.
Private messages are not automatically safe. We are often contacted about an angry message, a group chat that got out of hand or a voice note sent in frustration. The medium is private, but a complaint can still be made, and the recipient can usually keep and show what they received.
Whether a particular WhatsApp message is an offence depends on what it said, the context and the evidence. As we understand it, online messages, posts and reviews can be the subject of a complaint, and a message is not safe merely because it was sent privately. If you are asking whether you can be arrested for insulting someone on WhatsApp, the honest answer is that a complaint can lead to a call-up and an investigation, and what happens next depends on the facts and the law as it stands. Do not delete the message or contact the complainant before you have advice. We do not state penalties here.
This covers false statements made in a chat about a person: for example, an accusation of dishonesty sent to a colleague, a landlord or a neighbour. Because the audience is small, the question is who received it and whether it was passed on. Keep the message, the sender details and the time.
WhatsApp group defamation raises extra questions: who was in the group, who posted, who forwarded or reacted and whether an administrator removed anything. A statement made to dozens of people in a building, school, community or workplace group can do real damage and can be harder to contain. If you are accused over something in a group chat, tell us exactly who was present and what was said before and after. An insult in a WhatsApp group is judged by its words and its audience, and the position of an administrator or a member who only forwarded a message depends on the facts.
Voice note defamation raises a proof question, because the words are in audio and not text. Keep the original audio file and the chat around it, do not edit or trim it and do not rely on a screen recording alone if the original is available. If a voice note is alleged to contain an insult or false claim, we listen to it carefully, including the tone and the context, before we advise.
Insulted or accused over a WhatsApp message, group chat or voice note? Keep the originals and call before you reply. Your first consultation is free and confidential.
We help when someone wrongly says you did something, whether in a police complaint, to your employer, to your family or online. A false accusation or a false complaint can come from a neighbour, a colleague, a business partner, a tenant, a landlord or a former partner, and it can be hard to ignore because it affects your name before anything is decided.
If you have been falsely accused in Dubai of a crime, stay calm, keep every document and message, and do not confront the person making the claim. Whether you searched for a "false allegation lawyer Dubai" or simply want to know what to do, the advice starts with what the complaint says, who made it, what evidence they are relying on and what evidence you have. Typical protective steps include:
We also advise people who believe that a complaint made against them is untrue or malicious. Do not assume that a complaint will fall away on its own, and do not assume it will succeed against you. Whether a complaint is false, mistaken or genuine is for the authorities to decide on the evidence, so the way you respond matters.
If you made a complaint that is now disputed, tell us exactly what you reported and what evidence you had, since the position can change if the facts were not what you believed. We advise honestly, including where a complaint is weaker than you expected.
False statements can damage a company's name, customers or contracts. Defamation of a company can take many forms. A business can be the target of a competitor's claim, a former employee's post, a false review or a fake account, and it can also be accused of defaming someone else. Reputation protection for a business starts with the same steps as for a person: capture, assess, then choose the route.
A false review can sit on a search listing or a review site and shape what every new customer sees. If you are looking for a "fake review lawyer Dubai", start by sending us the review, the account that posted it, the date and anything showing that the reviewer was not a customer or that the facts are wrong. Whether a review is defamation or only a harsh opinion depends on what it says, and not every bad review can be removed. If you are asking how to report a false Google review, the first step is usually the platform's own reporting tool, supported by evidence, while we advise on whether a complaint or claim is justified. If you are the reviewer and the business has complained, do not delete the review or reply to the business before you have advice. We do not promise that a review will come down.
What people search for as a "reputation protection lawyer Dubai" is usually help responding to false claims on social media, in the press or in the market. That can mean preparing a warning letter, a complaint, a civil claim or a measured public statement, depending on the facts. A civil defamation claim in Dubai by a company needs proof of what was said, who read it and what harm followed, such as lost business. A company can also be exposed itself: a company can sometimes be held liable for an employee's social-media post made in the course of work, so it is worth setting out who may post for the business and what happens if something goes wrong. Where the problem involves a brand, a logo or an impersonation account, see our page on trademark and copyright.
We act for companies in free zones, the DIFC and the ADGM. Where a dispute has a contractual side as well as a reputation side, the forum can depend on the contract and on where the parties are based, which we explain at the first consultation without assuming the answer.
Where a director or manager is reported personally over something posted for the company, personal and corporate exposure can both arise. We advise the person and the business together where that makes sense, and separately where interests may differ. For ongoing support, see our page on retainer legal services.
Workplace insults and false accusations can lead to a criminal complaint, an internal disciplinary process and a labour dispute at the same time. Workplace insult cases in Dubai are often tangled: a heated argument, a message in a team chat, a complaint to HR and then a complaint to the police. Which route matters, and in which order, depends on the facts.
If you were insulted at work in Dubai, or accused of something you did not do, keep the messages and any emails, note the people present and avoid replying in kind. A false accusation at work in Dubai can affect your job, your reputation and sometimes your visa, which is why we look at the criminal complaint and the employment side together. Do not resign or sign a settlement before you have advice, because a signed document can waive claims. See our pages on labour lawyer in Dubai and employee rights. On the employment side, MBM acts for employees whose claim is significant, so tell us the position at the first consultation.
Employee defamation in Dubai covers a worker who posts about an employer, a colleague who spreads a rumour and an employer who makes a damaging statement about a former employee, for example in a reference or a message to the industry. Whether a statement is defamation, a protected complaint or fair comment depends on what it said and the context, and we do not assume the answer. A defamation lawyer for employees will also look at whether any contract, policy or confidentiality clause matters.
An employer can face a false claim from a worker, a post by a former employee or a complaint that a manager insulted someone. We advise on investigating before acting, on preserving evidence, on how to respond to a complaint and on whether disciplinary steps are appropriate. See our page for employers. Acting hastily, for example by dismissing someone over a post without checking the facts, can create a separate dispute.
Insults and false accusations sometimes come with a threat: pay, withdraw, stay silent or the post goes live. If you are being threatened with exposure, do not pay, keep the evidence and get advice before you report. A blackmail lawyer in Dubai can review the messages with you and plan the report. See our page on a cybercrime lawyer in Dubai for the full steps on blackmail, extortion and threats to share private images.
If a defamation dispute escalates into a demand for money, it can look different on the page than it felt in the moment. Whether a demand is a lawful claim for compensation or something more serious depends on what was said and how, and we review the messages before you answer. We treat these matters with discretion, and you can describe the situation by WhatsApp.
A defamation or insult complaint can reach a tourist or a resident in the same way, and your status affects the practical questions. If you are visiting, an angry message or a social media post can lead to a complaint, a call-up and a restriction on leaving the country. Insulting someone in Dubai as a tourist, in person or online, can be reported by the person who heard or read it, so do not assume that leaving the country ends the matter.
If you are abroad and have learned that a complaint exists, tell us before you decide whether to return. We advise on the position from our offices in Dubai and Sharjah, and you can speak to us in English.
Knowing which authority is dealing with your matter tells you what happens next. A defamation or insult matter may run through a criminal route, a civil route or both, and the path in your case depends on the facts.
| Authority | What it generally deals with | When we deal with it |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Police and its e-crime channels | Reports and complaints about online and offline statements, evidence and statements | At the start: before a report, an interview or a statement |
| Public Prosecution | Further questioning and the decision whether the matter goes to the criminal court | During investigation and on any decision to refer |
| Criminal Court of First Instance | Hearings and judgment where the matter proceeds | Throughout the hearings |
| Court of Appeal | Appeals against a judgment, where grounds exist | After a judgment, within the time limits |
| The civil courts | A separate civil claim for compensation, including moral damage | Alongside or after the criminal route, where one arises |
Appeals have strict time limits, so see our page on a criminal appeal lawyer if a judgment has already been issued.
The route depends on which side you are on and whether the matter is criminal, civil or both. Knowing each stage helps you understand what to expect. Treat this as a map, not a prediction.
Describe what was said, where and when, by phone, in person or WhatsApp. We explain where you stand and what to keep.
We read the statements, the context and the evidence that exists or could be lost, and tell you which label and route are likely.
If you instruct us, we give you a scope and a fee position in writing before paid work starts.
For the person affected, we prepare the complaint, removal request or demand. For the person accused, we prepare before any statement or interview.
Statements, further questioning and a decision whether the matter proceeds to court. We attend or advise at each step as the authority allows.
Where the matter can be resolved, we document it. Where it cannot, we represent you before the criminal court or the civil court and assess any appeal.
Settlement and withdrawal. In some categories of offence a complaint may be capable of withdrawal or settlement between the parties, depending on the law and the stage the matter has reached. Whether that is relevant in your case, and how a waiver should be recorded, is a question for your first consultation.
No one can responsibly give a single duration for a defamation or insult matter, and we do not publish one. The time depends on who is handling the file, whether the other side engages and which routes are used. These are the factors that decide it.
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Whether the matter can be settled | An apology and a written settlement can resolve some matters quickly, while a contested complaint takes longer |
| Which authority has the file | A complaint moves from the police to Public Prosecution, and each step has its own pace |
| Whether there is also a civil claim | A civil claim for compensation runs on its own timetable and can follow the criminal case |
| Quality of the evidence | Clear originals and witnesses can speed things up, while lost or edited material slows them down |
| Whether anyone is abroad | Service, statements and enforcement take longer when a party is outside the UAE |
| Appeal | An appeal adds a further stage and is available only where grounds exist |
We give you an honest estimate after we have read your documents, and we update it if the position changes. Some time limits are strict, so do not wait to find out.
These errors are common and mostly avoidable. Knowing them in advance can protect your position.
You do not need any of this to make the call. If you have been called in by the police or a deadline is close, call first and gather evidence afterwards. Never edit or delete what you keep.
Defamation and insult matters are personal, and the right advice depends on understanding both sides of them. Rated 4.9 on Google reviews. MBM is a founder-led team, led by Mohamed Badr with 17 years of legal experience, with litigation and arbitration handled by the same team and offices in Dubai and Sharjah. We are lawyers and legal consultants, and for these matters that means a first conversation in strict confidence, even by WhatsApp, and a written scope and fee before paid work starts. MBM works with group companies in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the Gulf, which helps when a matter has an international side. That is useful when the platform, the poster or the audience sits outside the UAE.
Advising the person written about and the person reported gives us a practical understanding of how these complaints are built and answered. We tell you honestly which side of the case is stronger.
A statement can lead to a criminal complaint and a separate civil claim. MBM handles litigation and arbitration as one team, so the complaint, the response and any compensation claim can be coordinated. See our law firm in Dubai page for how the firm works.
Confidentiality applies from the first message, not from an engagement letter. Reputation matters are sensitive, and we keep them that way.
No responsible firm can promise that content will be removed, a complaint upheld or a complaint dropped. We tell you the realistic position before you commit, and no outcome is guaranteed.
MBM has offices in Dubai Media City and in Sharjah (Al Khalidiya), and we advise on defamation and insult matters across the UAE. If you are looking for a defamation lawyer in Sharjah, see our page for Sharjah or come to the Al Khalidiya office. You can meet us at either office, speak by phone or send screenshots by WhatsApp. If the matter arose in another emirate, tell us at the first consultation.
Your first consultation with MBM is free and confidential. If you decide to instruct us, we give you a scope and a fee position in writing before paid work starts, so you know what is covered. Court fees, translation costs and other third-party charges depend on the matter and are separate from legal fees, and we explain which are likely to apply.
Because every defamation and insult matter is different, we do not publish a price list. A letter before action, a complaint, a defence at interview and a contested court case are different pieces of work, so the scope is agreed in writing first. Ask at your first consultation and we will answer directly.
Ready to talk about a defamation, insult or false accusation? Your first consultation is free and confidential.
Your free first consultation is with a member of MBM’s legal team in Dubai or Sharjah. Reputation matters are personal, and they are handled with discretion from the first message, whichever side you are on.
Founder & Managing Partner
Mohamed Badr leads MBM and has 17 years of legal experience. His career has included roles at law firms and multinational corporations in the UAE, advising businesses on high-stakes disputes, corporate restructuring and commercial litigation.
Names and titles as published on mbm-co.com. Your first consultation is with a member of MBM’s legal team in Dubai or Sharjah.
General information, not advice on your matter. Positions and procedures can change and depend on your specific facts, so please contact MBM directly to discuss yours.
In plain terms, defamation is damaging a person's or business's reputation by a statement made to others, often a statement alleged to be false. Online and social media defamation can carry criminal exposure under UAE cybercrime legislation, in addition to any separate civil claim for damages. Whether a particular statement is defamation, an insult or neither depends on what it said, the context and the evidence.
It can be the subject of a complaint. Online messages, posts and reviews can be reported, and a message is not safe merely because it was sent privately. Whether a particular message is an offence depends on what it said, the context and the evidence and on the law as it stands, so ask us before you reply or delete anything.
A complaint can lead to a call-up, an investigation and, depending on the case, further steps, and we do not predict what will happen in a particular case. If you have been contacted, do not ignore it, do not delete the chat and speak to a lawyer before you attend.
Broadly, defamation concerns damaging statements about a person's conduct or character made to others, while an insult is abusive or offensive language aimed at a person. One message can be treated as both. We read the words before saying which is likely to be used.
Generally a complaint is made to the police or the relevant e-crime channel, which may take statements and then passes the file to Public Prosecution, which decides whether the matter goes to court. A separate civil claim for compensation is a different route. As we understand it, online matters can be reported through the Dubai Police eCrime platform, the Ministry of Interior eCrime service or the Public Prosecution's "My Safe Society" app, and we confirm the current route with you.
A civil claim for compensation may be possible where a wrongful statement has caused harm, and it can run alongside or separately from a criminal complaint. What can be claimed depends on the facts and the evidence, so we look at your proof and the likely cost before you decide.
As we understand it, compensation can include moral (emotional) harm as well as financial loss, although what can be claimed depends on the facts and the evidence. A claim needs a clear account of what was said, how it harmed you and what proof exists. No outcome is guaranteed.
It depends on the exact provision, the facts and the law as it stands, so we do not quote figures on a web page. After we have read the complaint and the words complained of, we explain the realistic exposure for your case.
You can ask the platform, the page owner or the author to take it down, and where a complaint or claim is under way, the authority or court can deal with it. Capture the content first, with the link, date and username. We cannot promise that content will be removed or that a platform will act.
Keep the original, note the date and the authority and speak to a lawyer before you attend, reply or give any explanation. Do not delete the post or chat and do not contact the complainant to argue. A missed appearance can make things worse.
Not before you have advice. Deleting can complicate the position and can destroy helpful context, although in some cases removal is sensible as part of an apology or settlement. We advise on when and how to do it properly.
In some categories of offence a complaint may be capable of withdrawal, waiver or settlement between the parties, subject to the applicable law and the stage the matter has reached. A civil claim can also be settled. Any settlement should be written down and signed, and we can advise on whether this is open in your case.
A complaint that is open with the police or Public Prosecution can lead to a restriction on travel while the matter is open, and what happens depends on the law, the facts and the authority. Do not assume you can travel if you have been contacted. See our travel ban lawyer page.
The same questions apply: what was said, who heard it and what proof exists. For a group chat we ask who was present and who forwarded or reacted, and for a voice note we need the original audio file. Do not edit or trim either.
Possibly. The first step is usually the platform's own reporting route, supported by evidence, while we advise whether a complaint, a civil claim or a letter is justified. Not every negative review is defamation, since a harsh opinion is different from a false statement of fact, and we cannot promise removal.
A business can pursue a complaint or a civil claim where false statements harm its name, customers or contracts, subject to the law and the evidence. We also advise companies that are accused. A company can sometimes be liable for an employee's social-media post made in the course of work.
Keep the messages and any emails, note who was present, avoid replying in kind and do not resign or sign a settlement before you have advice. The criminal complaint and the employment side are looked at together. See our labour lawyer page.
An employer may be able to respond, but acting hastily can create a separate dispute, so facts, contract terms and evidence should be checked first. We advise employers on how to investigate and respond. See our page for employers.
A complaint can reach a visitor as well as a resident, and a restriction on leaving can follow while it is open, so do not assume that leaving ends the matter. Keep your passport and flight details, keep what you have received and speak to a lawyer. You can speak to us in English.
Do not assume so. Whether truth, context or the way a statement was made helps you depends on the law and the facts, and an insult need not be false to be complained about. Speak to a lawyer before you rely on that argument.
Yes. We advise people who have been defamed, insulted or falsely accused and people who have been reported over a post, message or review, in confidence and on the facts of each case.
No. No responsible law firm can promise an outcome, including the removal of content or the result of a complaint or claim. MBM's role is to advise on the realistic options and pursue them diligently.
Yes. MBM's first consultation is free and confidential. It is a discussion of your situation and your options. If you then choose to instruct MBM, we confirm the scope and the fee in writing before any paid work starts.
Screenshots with the username, date and link, the whole chat or thread, original audio files, any call-up or summons and a short timeline. You do not need any of this to make the first call.
MBM has offices in Dubai Media City (Business Central Towers, Tower B) and in Al Khalidiya, Sharjah, and advises on defamation and insult matters across the UAE. Call +971 4 570 0204, send a WhatsApp message with your screenshots or use the form on this page. Your first consultation is free.
Your first consultation with MBM is free and confidential. Tell us briefly what has happened. A member of MBM’s legal team will review your enquiry and come back to you with the appropriate next step.
If you have a police call-up or summons, or a deadline is close, please call rather than waiting for a reply to this form. You can also send screenshots on WhatsApp.
Dubai · Office 3204, Level 32, Business Central Towers – Tower B, Dubai Media City
Sharjah · Office 2001, Level 20, Al Hind Tower, Al Khalidiya District
Tell us what is happening in your own words. We will explain where you stand and what the sensible next step is.
Your first consultation is free and confidential. Whether you are the person written about or the person reported, tell us what was said, where and when, and we will explain where you stand and what the sensible next step is. No outcome is guaranteed, and we say so before you commit.
Social media defamation lawyer UAE: Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook and review sites
Defamation and insults on social media are treated like other online conduct, and the platform does not change the basic questions. The questions are what was posted, on which account, to what audience and what proof exists. The same advice works for the person written about and for the person who posted.
Social media defamation lawyer Dubai: posts, comments and stories
This covers posts, comments, captions, replies, stories, reels, videos and memes. Anonymous accounts, fake profiles and pages that repost content are common, and each raises a separate question: who is behind it and whether the author can be identified. We do not promise that an anonymous poster can be identified or stopped.
What we handle on social media matters:
Instagram defamation lawyer Dubai
We are often asked about Instagram stories that vanish after a day, comments that can be hidden and accounts that can be set to private. These features make fast evidence capture more important, not less, and they do not remove exposure for the person who posted. Save the story, the profile and the date before it disappears.
Cyber defamation lawyer Dubai and cyberbullying
Cyber defamation also includes campaigns of repeated posts, tagging and group pile-ons. If you searched for a "cyberbullying lawyer Dubai", our advice covers both a person who is being targeted and a person accused of targeting someone else, because context and history often matter as much as any single message. See our page on a cybercrime lawyer in Dubai for the wider online framework.
Online insult lawyer Dubai
Online insults are abusive messages, comments and posts that are aimed at a person but do not accuse them of anything specific. People who search for a "social media insult lawyer Dubai" usually want the words, the setting and the history read carefully, since an exchange between two people who were both angry looks different from a one-sided campaign. Online insults in Dubai can lead to a complaint, so do not assume that an angry comment is harmless. And if the person who was insulted first responds in kind, insulting someone online in Dubai can turn them into the subject of a complaint too.