An Emirati man has been sentenced to three years in jail and ordered to pay a Dh5 million fine after an Abu Dhabi court found him guilty of publishing online content inciting marriage to underage girls in Morocco.

The ruling was issued on Wednesday (May 20) by the State Security Chamber of the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals. The court convicted Saif Salem Saif Ali Al Maqbali and ordered the deletion of the offending video, the closure of his social media accounts and the confiscation of the mobile phone used to commit the offence.

According to the UAE Attorney-General, the defendant was referred to an expedited trial after investigations found that he had published a video encouraging marriage to minors in Morocco while falsely claiming such practices were permitted under Moroccan law.

Authorities said the content went beyond misinformation and contained rhetoric capable of inciting sedition, hatred and social discrimination. Investigators said the video also harmed the fraternal ties between the UAE and Morocco and violated the deeply rooted social values and legal principles upheld by the UAE.

The prosecution described the content as a serious breach of national laws designed to protect public order, social cohesion and international relations.

The UAE has strengthened enforcement against cyber-related offences in recent years, with authorities warning that social media users can face severe penalties for content deemed harmful to public morals, national unity or foreign relations. ICA/Expat Media