UAE Media Council Reaffirms Rules on AI Depictions of National Symbols and Public Figures

The UAE Media Council has reiterated that artificial intelligence and other modern technologies cannot be used to depict UAE national symbols or public figures without the required prior official approval. The Council originally issued the warning in September 2025 as part of its guidance on the responsible use of emerging technologies in media content.

The requirement is particularly relevant as generative AI tools make it increasingly easy for businesses, media organisations and individual creators to generate realistic images, videos and other content involving identifiable people, institutions and national imagery.

According to the UAE Media Council, using AI technologies or other modern tools to depict national symbols or public figures without prior approval constitutes a violation of UAE media content standards. The UAE's official media content standards require, among other matters, respect for:

• the UAE system of governance, its symbols and institutions;

• national identity and cultural heritage;

• privacy and individuals' private lives;

• the country's legal, economic, judicial and security systems; and

• accuracy in published information.

The standards also prohibit the publication or circulation of false news, forged material, misleading information and material incorrectly attributed to individuals or organisations.

The Council has specifically warned against using artificial intelligence to produce or disseminate content that:

• spreads misinformation;

• promotes hate speech;

• defames individuals;

• damages a person's dignity or reputation; or

• undermines societal values and principles.

Such conduct may constitute a media violation and can result in administrative penalties under the UAE's media regulatory framework. The rules are therefore not limited to whether AI-generated material is technically convincing. The purpose, subject matter and way in which the content is published can also determine whether it complies with UAE media standards.

The UAE's media regulatory framework covers traditional media as well as electronic and digital publishing and other forms of content distributed through modern technological platforms.

Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 on the Regulation of Media gives the UAE Media Council responsibility for regulating and licensing media activities and overseeing compliance with national media-content standards.

This means businesses using AI-generated content for corporate communications, advertising, social media or other public-facing material should not assume that content created digitally falls outside conventional media rules.

NUR Advisory Note

The rapid adoption of generative AI creates a new compliance consideration for companies producing marketing and communications content in the UAE.

Businesses should establish internal controls around AI-generated images, videos and other media, particularly where content involves:

• UAE national symbols;

• government institutions or their branding;

• public figures;

• identifiable individuals;

• material presented as genuine photography or video; or

• content that could reasonably be interpreted as an official statement or endorsement.

External marketing agencies, designers and social-media contractors should also be made aware of these requirements. Outsourcing content production does not remove the need to ensure that material published under a company's name complies with UAE media standards. Where approval is required, businesses should obtain it before publishing or distributing the relevant content rather than relying on post-publication correction.