“What is happening here? Have you heard anything? Did they strike here?” This is how many Lebanese living in Gulf countries communicate with their relatives and friends in Lebanon during the ongoing war between Iran on one side and Israel and the United States on the other, trying to understand what is happening on the ground, as security-related information there is largely restricted to official state channels.

“We came to the Gulf because it was safer than Lebanon. Now I don’t know what to do,” one Lebanese woman living in Riyadh told AFP. An Egyptian resident in Riyadh said: “I went outside with my young son when we suddenly heard the sound of an explosion. People around us were looking up at the sky, trying to understand what was happening. This is not something you expect in Riyadh.”

In a moment, the Gulf states shifted from being perceived as a relatively safe haven to becoming part of a battlefield. Cities are now targeted by missiles and drones, and warning alerts are sent to mobile phones, cautioning residents about the possibility of incoming rockets and urging them to stay away from windows. In this context, controlling information has itself become part of managing the war.

While Gulf states attempt to “prevent the disclosure of sensitive locations, reduce panic among residents, and preserve their image as stable countries,” Lebanese, foreign, and even Israeli media outlets circulate reports about drone attacks on U.S. bases in the Gulf or about air defenses intercepting missiles.

According to data from the Institute for National Security Studies, the United Arab Emirates has been the Arab country most affected by Iranian missile and drone attacks since the outbreak of the war, recording around 1,268 incidents. Kuwait follows with 562 attacks, then Qatar with 162, Bahrain with 129, and Jordan with 49. By contrast, only two attacks have been recorded in each of Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Gulf governments are seeking to contain the spread of such reports or deny them, while emphasizing that they are not parties to the war. An Emirati official told The Jerusalem Post that the UAE had not targeted an Iranian seawater desalination facility, denying a report previously published by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

Controlling Information as Part of Managing the War

Over the past decades, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have developed into major hubs for international journalism in the Middle East. Numerous Arab and foreign media platforms have established their operations in Gulf cities. However, in light of the security realities associated with the ongoing war, Gulf states have moved to tighten oversight of media outlets and restrict the circulation of information related to security developments.

Restrictions on the circulation of information during armed conflicts are not a new phenomenon. During the Gulf War, the United States and its allies imposed a strict system to control the flow of information. Journalists at the time operated within what were known as “press pools,” in which a limited number of reporters accompanied military forces. At the same time, media materials were subject to review before publication, and filming and access to operational sites were restricted.

Today, similar limitations on freedoms are reappearing in the Gulf, though through different tools. Control over information has shifted to the digital sphere, where laws in Gulf countries criminalize the spread of rumors, misleading news, or information about security developments outside official state channels.

The UAE Restricts Information to Official Channels

UAE laws criminalize the reposting of misleading information even if the individual was not the original source. Simply forwarding a message on WhatsApp, sharing fake news, or filming and publishing images of security or sensitive sites can expose individuals to legal accountability.

According to Dubai Police, publishing such information “promotes fear and anxiety within society and contributes to undermining security and stability.” Authorities have called on citizens and residents to rely on official sources for information and to act responsibly when sharing content on digital platforms. Dubai Police stated that “publishing or circulating rumors or misleading news, or any content that contradicts official announcements, or that could spread panic or harm security, public order, or public health, may lead to strict legal penalties, including imprisonment and a fine of no less than 200,000 dirhams,” roughly 55,000 US dollars.

In a statement, the UAE Attorney General Hamdan Saif Al Shamsi also warned against “filming, publishing, or circulating photos and videos documenting incident sites or the damage caused by the fall of projectiles or shrapnel in certain areas.”

At the same time, the UAE government and the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence publish updates on the security situation through their official platforms. These statements explain that the sounds heard in various parts of the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, drones, and cruise missiles launched from Iran.

Authorities have also activated the National Joint Media Cell to inform both the Emirati public and the international community of developments. In addition, an early warning system has been deployed, sending alert messages in Arabic and English accompanied by strong vibration and loud sound notifications.

Under these laws, the UAE Public Prosecution has blocked a number of Saudi media websites, including Al Arabiya’s breaking news platform, as well as foreign outlets and several online accounts. These include the account of Saudi activist Iyad Al-Hamoud, Saudi media figure Malek Al-Rouqi, Emirati opposition figure Maryam Al-Hammadi, and Misbar, which specializes in verifying rumors. The economic account of the Saudi platform Asharq News and the account of Saudi strategic expert Hisham Al-Ghannam were also affected.

These accounts were subjected to what is known as “geo-blocking,” meaning access to them was restricted inside the UAE under the country’s 2021 Law on Combating Rumors and Cybercrimes, which includes provisions applied during times of war and crises.

Bahrain Bans the Publication of Military Information

In the UAE, citizens and residents are informed about security developments through the National Contact Center. Meanwhile, the Bahrain Defence Force has announced a ban on photographing, publishing, or redistributing any images, videos, recordings, or information related to its military sites, operations, or defensive measures. The ban is based on the 2002 Military Judiciary Law and the 1976 Penal Code.

Authorities also warned against circulating unverified or fabricated information through traditional media outlets, digital platforms, or social media, stressing that such actions could expose individuals to legal accountability.

Fines of up to 100,000 Qatari Riyals in Qatar

Qatar Ministry of Interior has warned against gathering in crowds or filming and publishing footage related to field developments, cautioning that such actions could lead to legal consequences. The ministry urged citizens and residents to rely on official channels for information, including the Government Communications Office, the Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Interior. It also activated alert procedures and an early warning system to notify residents of any security developments.

Reposting rumors or false news is considered a criminal offense under Qatari law. According to amendments to the Penal Code in 2020, the penalty can reach up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 100,000 Qatari riyals, with harsher penalties if the offense occurs during wartime.

In this context, the Cyber Economic Crimes Department of the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation announced the arrest of more than 300 individuals for publishing misleading information and videos related to the ongoing events.

Saudi Arabia Tightens Control Over the Circulation of Security Information

The Saudi Ministry of Interior has warned citizens against circulating rumors or video clips from unknown sources and urged them to obtain information from official channels. Filming and publishing footage of attacks or security incidents is considered a violation of the Anti-Cybercrime Law, as it may be treated as publishing data on the information network in a way that could harm public order, undermine security, or damage the public interest.

Kuwait Arrests Individuals for Publishing Information

The Kuwait Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of two individuals accused of publishing videos mocking the Kuwaiti armed forces and the country’s air defense system. The Kuwaiti Public Prosecution also referred to the State Security Law, which stipulates penalties of no less than three years in prison for those who spread rumors or false news that undermine national security.

Kuwait has restricted the circulation of security-related information to official platforms and warns residents through traditional means such as sirens or advance notifications via the government application Sahel, according to the Ministry of Interior.

Amid attempts by Gulf governments to control the circulation of news, images, and videos on social media, the digital sphere is becoming a parallel arena of confrontation that is no less important than the military front. Some media outlets note that restricting the circulation of information aims to limit the spread of misinformation and prevent Gulf states from being drawn into the ongoing war through the distortion of facts and the spread of fake news. They also point out that artificial intelligence tools are increasingly being used to manipulate information and contribute to destabilizing public opinion.