Abu Dhabi’s Family, Civil and Administrative Claims Court has ordered a woman to pay AED5,000 in compensation to a man after finding that he suffered harm from offensive verbal remarks communicated through an information technology platform. The civil ruling follows an earlier criminal judgment in which the woman was fined AED10,000 in connection with the same incident, highlighting the possible financial and legal consequences of abusive electronic communications.

According to details published by the UAE newspaper Al Khaleej on Saturday, October 24, 2026, the claimant filed a civil lawsuit seeking AED15,000 in compensation for material and moral damages. He also requested legal interest from the date of his claim until full payment, together with litigation expenses and legal fees arising from the proceedings.

The man argued that the defendant had used insulting and offensive language against him through an electronic communication channel, causing distress, embarrassment and damage to his reputation. He also stated that the incident had forced him to pursue legal procedures and incur associated expenses in an effort to protect his rights and seek redress for the alleged harm.

Court documents showed that the incident had previously resulted in criminal proceedings against the defendant. Those proceedings concluded with a criminal fine of AED10,000, which the claimant relied upon as evidence when pursuing his separate civil compensation claim. The previous judgment established the misconduct underlying the subsequent action for damages.

During its examination of the civil claim, the court considered the emotional and reputational impact of the offensive remarks. The claimant maintained that he had experienced feelings of humiliation, sadness and psychological distress. The court determined that the moral harm arising from the incident warranted compensation and assessed the amount in light of the circumstances presented.

The court ultimately ordered the woman to pay AED5,000 to the claimant as civil compensation. This amount is separate from the earlier AED10,000 criminal fine, bringing the combined financial amounts ordered in connection with the incident to AED15,000. The criminal fine and civil compensation serve different legal purposes, as one constitutes a penalty while the other addresses harm suffered by the injured party.

The case is particularly relevant to citizens and expatriate residents in the United Arab Emirates who regularly use messaging applications, social media platforms and other electronic communication services. It illustrates that offensive remarks transmitted digitally may lead to legal consequences and that an injured person may pursue civil compensation following criminal proceedings when the relevant legal conditions are satisfied.

However, the financial amounts in this particular case should not be interpreted as a fixed penalty applicable to every instance of online verbal abuse. The legal consequences of such conduct depend on the facts, evidence, applicable legislation and judicial assessment. Residents are therefore encouraged to communicate responsibly and avoid language that may infringe upon the dignity or reputation of others.

Source: Al Khaleej Newspaper