The public have been reminded about the dangers of using foul language to express anger or insult others online.
It is illegal in the UAE to swear or slander someone on an information network, which includes social media or messaging services such as WhatsApp.
Prosecutors this week issued a warning, stating that people found guilty could be sentenced to jail and fined up to Dh500,000 ($136,160).
The legal authorities said the laws were designed to tackle the misuse of online platforms.
“Heavier punishments will be sought for acts against public sector employees in the line of duty or a person assigned to perform a public service,” the UAE Public Prosecution said in a tweet.
Three months to report offences
Legal adviser Mohammed Najeeb told The National the UAE had taken a firm stance on maintaining a respectful and responsible online environment by introducing stricter measures against using profane language on social media platforms.
“Swearing crimes have been changed during the digital era," he said. "In the past, people used to be face-to-face and use offensive language [to each other]. But now it can happen with a click of a button on your phone.
“People should be cautious of what they write on social media. Victims of online swearing can report the incident, even after three months of posting or sending the offensive content.”
Mr Najeeb said the severity of the punishment would depend on the nature and extent of the offence.
“The exact punishment is determined by the court, taking into consideration the specific circumstances of the case,” he said.
“Sometimes judges use leniency against violators but there have been strict verdicts issued by the Supreme Court after appeals from the Public Prosecution.”
Several cases involving online swearing or offensive language prompted authorities to issue the reminder this week.
Dubai Criminal Court on Monday found an Egyptian man guilty of insulting a work colleague on WhatsApp by calling him a "hustler".
Court documents showed the man had issues at work with the victim and used the offensive term in a message sent in June last year.
“I received several WhatsApp messages from the defendant,” the victim said in records. "In one message he called me 'hustler' and I reported the incident to Al Rashidiya police station."
The defendant admitted sending the messages but said he had not meant to offend the victim. He said the work problems had provoked him into sending the messages.
The defendant was ordered to pay a fine of Dh5,000.
“The messages have outrageous phrases that offended the victim,” the court said in its verdict.
Social media influencer offends hospital
A Dubai-based social media influencer was last year fined Dh5,000 for insulting and defaming a local hospital after posting a video to her followers saying doctors did not know how to deal with patients.
The Iraqi woman, who has more than 100,000 followers on her Instagram account, added a poll to ask them if they supported her claims about the hospital.
According to court records, the woman was upset after her mother went to the hospital in January last year for treatment and was left with bruises after giving blood samples.
“I posted about the incident that happened to my mother on my Instagram. The hospital considers it an insult,” said the woman in official records.
"I made a complaint to the hospital and after two weeks they told me there is no mistake and it is normal to have blue marks after taking samples.
“I deleted the video and the poll.”
She was charged with insulting the hospital through a post on Instagram. Dubai Criminal Court issued a fine of Dh5,000 and the Dubai Court of Appeal upheld the verdict in January this year.
The case has also been referred to Dubai Civil Court for compensation.
Mr Najeeb encouraged people to be mindful of their language and respect cultural norms when engaging in online conversations, social media posts or any form of digital communication.
“By adhering to these guidelines and fostering a positive online atmosphere, individuals can contribute to a respectful and inclusive digital society in the UAE,” he added.
The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
If%20you%20go
%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20regular%20flights%20from%20Dubai%20to%20Kathmandu.%20Fares%20with%20Air%20Arabia%20and%20flydubai%20start%20at%20Dh1%2C265.%3Cbr%3EIn%20Kathmandu%2C%20rooms%20at%20the%20Oasis%20Kathmandu%20Hotel%20start%20at%20Dh195%20and%20Dh120%20at%20Hotel%20Ganesh%20Himal.%3Cbr%3EThird%20Rock%20Adventures%20offers%20professionally%20run%20group%20and%20individual%20treks%20and%20tours%20using%20highly%20experienced%20guides%20throughout%20Nepal%2C%20Bhutan%20and%20other%20parts%20of%20the%20Himalayas.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Mountain%20Boy
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Zainab%20Shaheen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Naser%20Al%20Messabi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Astra%20Tech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMarch%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAbdallah%20Abu%20Sheikh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20technology%20investment%20and%20development%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24500m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
