Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have ordered the arrest of 35 people, including 19 Indian nationals, for allegedly publishing misleading videos and online content during the current security tensions in West Asia, according to the state news agency Emirates News Agency.

The action follows a directive by the UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi to refer two groups of suspects for expedited trial over content posted on digital platforms. Authorities initially identified a group of 10 individuals, followed later by another group of 25, bringing the total number of accused to 35.

Officials said the investigation began after authorities stepped up monitoring of social media during the ongoing regional security situation. The surveillance aimed to identify online material that could spread misinformation or undermine public security. According to the statement, some of the videos circulated online featured children and were designed to provoke strong emotional reactions among viewers.

Security concerns in the UAE

The crackdown comes amid heightened security concerns in the country.

Oil loading operations were suspended at the Port of Fujairah after what authorities described as an Iranian drone strike on Monday. The facility handles around one million barrels per day of the UAE’s Murban crude — roughly 1% of global oil demand.

At the Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, flights were halted for several hours after a drone strike on a nearby fuel storage facility. Thick plumes of black smoke were seen over Dubai, though authorities later said the fire had been brought under control.

Crackdown on online content

Authorities said the suspects had circulated different types of content related to recent military developments.

Some posts contained authentic footage showing air defence systems intercepting projectiles or debris found after attacks. Officials said that while the material appeared genuine, sharing such footage could reveal sensitive defence capabilities and create public panic.

In other cases, the clips had been digitally manipulated or generated using artificial intelligence to appear real. Investigators also found posts that falsely claimed incidents occurring in other countries had taken place inside the UAE.

Some suspects were also accused of sharing posts praising or glorifying a country involved in the conflict and promoting its political and military leadership, which authorities said undermined the UAE’s national interests.

The public prosecution said the suspects have been placed in custody while investigations continue.

Warning from authorities

Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said that under UAE law, spreading misleading information that threatens public security can lead to criminal penalties, including at least one year in prison and a fine of no less than 100,000 dirhams.

He warned that circulating such content could mislead public opinion, create confusion during a sensitive security period and provide external actors with information that could distort facts or undermine confidence in authorities.

Earlier, officials had also cautioned residents against photographing incident sites or sharing images and videos related to defence operations, saying the circulation of such material could expose sensitive information or cause unnecessary alarm.