Someone shared my private photos online without consent in the UAE — is that a crime?

Yes. Sharing someone's private photos or videos online without their consent is a criminal offence in the UAE. Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes protects privacy and makes it an offence to use an electronic means to photograph, copy, publish or disclose private images, conversations or information without authorisation, even if the material was originally shared willingly. This applies regardless of your relationship with the person who posted it. You should preserve all evidence, including the post, links, account names and screenshots, and avoid deleting your own copies. Report it promptly through the police or the emirate's e-crime channel, such as Dubai Police's eCrime platform or Abu Dhabi's Aman service, which handle these matters confidentially. The Public Prosecution can pursue the offender and seek removal of the content. Acting quickly improves the chance of tracing the source and limiting spread. To protect your privacy and pursue the case effectively, you can compare verified UAE legal professionals on LEXAI experienced in privacy and cybercrime matters.