Al Ain Court Orders Dh40,000 Penalty for Man Who Secretly Filmed Family in Café

A man has been ordered to pay a total of Dh40,000 after the Al Ain Civil, Commercial and Administrative Court found he unlawfully photographed another man and his family inside a café and shared the images on social media without their consent.

The civil court awarded Dh30,000 in compensation to the plaintiff, in addition to a Dh10,000 fine earlier issued by the criminal court for the same incident.

Case records show that the plaintiff sought Dh50,000 in damages, arguing that the defendant violated his family’s privacy by secretly taking their photographs in a public coffee shop and posting them online.

The criminal court had previously convicted the defendant of using a smartphone -- considered an information technology device under UAE law -- to invade the privacy of others and imposed a Dh10,000 fine.

During the civil proceedings, the defendant submitted a defence memorandum requesting that the compensation claim be rejected.

However, the civil court held that the criminal conviction was final and binding, forming the basis of the civil liability. It ruled that taking and publishing images of the family without permission constituted a clear violation of privacy, a right safeguarded by law.

The court added that the family suffered psychological harm, embarrassment, anxiety and reputational damage among relatives and acquaintances as a result of the defendant’s actions.

Finding that wrongdoing, damage and causation were fully established, the court ordered the defendant to pay Dh30,000 in compensation along with court fees and expenses, while dismissing other claims.

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