Legislative Responses to Cyberbullying in the UAE: An Examination of the Effectiveness of Two Federal Decrees

This article examines the phenomenon of cyberbullying from a legal perspective, focusing on the United Arab Emirates (‘UAE’). The increased use of technology in daily life has led to a rise in cybercrime, including cyberbullying. Children are frequent users of the cyber-world, and cyberbullying has become a significant issue that can have severe physical and psychological impacts. This paper aims to explore cyberbullying in the UAE and analyse the relevant provisions of two laws: the Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrime and the Federal Decree Law No. 3 of 2016 on Child Rights. Specifically, the paper addresses two questions: whether the concept of cyberbullying is distinct from that of physical bullying, and, more importantly, whether existing UAE laws are sufficient to address cyberbullying. The paper concludes by highlighting the urgent need for the UAE to revise some provisions to tackle cyberbullying and protect users, especially children.