Tourist arrested in Dubai after 'filming Iranian missiles'

A British tourist has been arrested in Dubai for allegedly filming Iranian missile attacks.

According to the campaign group Detained in Dubai, who confirmed the news to The Telegraph, a 60-year-old British national was arrested and taken into custody at a police station in Bur Dubai area on Monday.

The man has not been charged and could still be released. However if he were to be prosecuted, penalties include two years in prison or a fine.

It is not known if the footage the man allegedly recorded was shared on social media.

It's estimated that more than 240,000 Brits have relocated to the UAE, with Dubai being their preferred location of choice.

What are the laws around social media in Dubai?

When it comes to social media, the United Arab Emirates has some of the strictest social media laws in the world.

A British national has been arrested in Dubai for allegedly filming Iranian missile strikes (Getty Stock Images)

It is considered a criminal offence to share content which portrays the UAE (which includes Dubai and Abu Dhabi) or its leaders in a negative light. Meanwhile influencers based in the region are required to apply for a Social Media Advertiser Permit with the UAE Media council, as of 1 February 2026.

The Emirate has also reiterated rules around social media content since the advent of the war between Iran and the US, reiterating that 'spreading rumours is a crime'.

This includes sharing information which is considered misinformation, dangerous to 'public order' or threatening to 'national unity'.

Penalties for those who fall foul of the rules include a AED200,000 (£40,000) fine or two years in prison, according to UAE legislation.

"Authorities have given these warnings, but when you’re there and everyone else seems to be sharing these photos, a lot of people are just going to forget or get caught up in everything," Detained in Dubai's Radha Stirling told The Telegraph.

Clean up at the Fairmont hotel in Dubai after it was hit by debris from an Iranian drone on 1 March (Fadel SENNA / AFP via Getty Images)

"Everyone’s got their phone and their camera out. People are just being a bit negligent. They don’t understand that it’s very serious – that they could go to prison there."

Meanwhile Gulf News shared updated guidance on what to do in the event of an emergency alert, telling citizens to prioritise their personal safety over taking photos and videos.

The guidelines include advice to 'seek shelter immediately' and 'avoid spreading unverified information' on social media.

As of 10 March, there has been 122 injuries and six casualties (two of which are servicemen) in the UAE, with air defence systems intercepting the overwhelming majority of drones and missiles fired its way.

The US-Israeli war against Iran has caused widespread disruption in the area (AFP via Getty Images)

What have UAE influencers posted about the conflict?

Following the initial shock of drones and missile interceptions being captured over the UAE skies, posts from influencers have rallied around the Emirate by sharing videos highlighting the safety and security of life in the region.

LADbible has reached out to Detained in Dubai, the UK Foreign Office and the UAE government for comment.