Abu Dhabi police arrest more than 350 over footage, disinformation

Police in the emirate of Abu Dhabi arrested nearly 400 people for filming or "spreading misinformation" during the Middle East war, which saw Tehran launch a campaign of strikes on the Gulf.

Featured Image

A full moon also known as the "Blood Moon" is seen above the Abu Dhabi skyline on March 3, 2026. In the first two days of the war in the Middle East, Iran launched nearly 400 missiles and around 1,000 drones towards the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan, said Mintel World, which specialises in open-source intelligence. Ryan Lim / AFP

2026-04-08 19:41:11

Police in the emirate of Abu Dhabi arrested nearly 400 people for filming or "spreading misinformation" during the Middle East war, which saw Tehran launch a campaign of strikes on the Gulf.

This was the latest batch of arrests announced by the emirate as Gulf countries crack down on footage and posts related to Iran's attacks during the conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

"Abu Dhabi Police announced the arrest of 375 individuals of various nationalities for filming different locations and spreading misinformation related to current events on social media platforms," police said in a statement on X.

They have been referred to the Public Prosecution, it added.

Similar measures have been taken across the United Arab Emirates and the wider Gulf region, as Iran hits US assets but also civilian infrastructure including landmarks, oil and gas facilities, airports and residential areas.

The Gulf has borne the brunt of Iran's attacks in response to the US-Israeli military campaign, with attacks on the region continuing despite a fragile two-week ceasefire.

© Agence France-Presse

Topics

Discuss

Sign Using

350 characters remaining