Three residents of a Dubai high-rise were reportedly arrested after privately sharing images of a drone strike that damaged their building, according to Detained in Dubai, a campaign group.
The arrests follow a Wednesday attack on a luxury residential tower in the Creek Harbour neighbourhood, which sparked a major fire. Footage of the incident showed a significant hole in the building’s facade. Emergency services responded to the scene, located approximately 10km from Dubai International Airport.
Authorities reportedly requested to examine the phones of residents following the attack. Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, stated that the residents allegedly sent the images to “loved ones confirming they were alive following the explosion.” Stirling cautioned that criminalizing such a response “risks punishing victims rather than protecting them.”
The UAE has strict cybercrime laws, and Stirling warned that even privately shared photographs related to sensitive events can trigger criminal investigations. “Foreign residents often assume that sending a photo privately to family members is harmless. In the UAE, even a personal unshared photograph related to sensitive events can trigger a criminal investigation,” she said.
The incident is part of a broader pattern of drone strikes targeting Dubai, with at least one other strike reported within the previous 24 hours. According to the Visahq.com, a suspected Iranian drone crashed into the Address Creek Harbour residential tower on March 12, sparking a slight fire and prompting the evacuation of families. This latest attack underscores the “elevated risk profile facing the UAE’s air-space and critical infrastructure.”
A separate case involves a British tourist who could face up to two years in jail for allegedly recording footage of Iranian missiles flying over Dubai, according to Detained in Dubai. The man, a 60-year-old from London, was reportedly arrested on March 9 and deleted the footage upon request from authorities. Stirling noted that multiple individuals are facing charges related to posting or sharing content about the strikes, and that even sharing or commenting on the same content can lead to charges.
The charges are described as “vague and broad but serious,” potentially leading to lengthy prison sentences and indefinite detention under national security laws, with limited access to embassies and potential human rights abuses. Authorities have not commented on the arrests or the ongoing investigations.
