March 16, 2026
MANILA – The Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai on Sunday said they are “closely monitoring” reports of Filipinos arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for posting and sharing online videos related to the Middle East war strikes.
“Philippine officials have sought official confirmation and further details from the competent UAE authorities regarding the identity, status, and legal circumstances of any Filipino nationals involved,” a statement of the embassy and consulate general read.
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The embassy then maintained that it respects the sovereignty of the UAE and its right to enforce its national security, cybercrime and public order laws.
It stressed that UAE authorities have already publicly reminded the public that publishing or sharing misleading or fabricated security‑related content is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment and substantial fines.
“In this regard, all Filipino nationals in the UAE are reminded to exercise utmost caution and responsibility in their use of social media and messaging platforms,” it said.
The embassy also urged Filipinos to refrain from recording, posting, forwarding, or commenting on unverified or sensitive security‑related content; to avoid spreading rumors or speculative information and to rely only on official announcements of UAE authorities and credible news sources for information on ongoing security situations.
The embassy and the consulate general then assured the public that the safety and welfare of Filipinos in the UAE “remain a prime concern of the Philippine government,” vowing to continue coordinating closely with UAE authorities.
Conflict in the Middle East escalated in late February after the US and Israel attacked Iran after years of confrontation over Tehran’s nuclear programme and regional influence.