Dubai Police issue fines of $409k and five year prison sentences as warning for cybercrime hackers

Dubai Police issue fines of $409k and five year prison sentences as warning for cybercrime hackers

Dubai Police have issued a stern warning to cybersecurity hackers setting their sights on state institutions.

Cyberattacks and digital threats will now be met with a minimum five-year prison term and fines of up to AED1.5m ($409k). The stark warning comes as the cost of cybercrime to the world’s economy is estimated will exceed $10.5tn by 2025.

Dubai Police addressed potential threats and crime via their social media, as they said: “Unlawful access into information systems of state institutions is criminalised according to Article 3 of the UAE Federal decree law number 34 of 2021 on combating rumours and cybercrime.”

They added: “As per Article 3, a temporary prison term and a fine ranging from a minimum of AED200,000 and a maximum of AED500,000 shall be applied to anyone who unlawfully accesses a website, electronic information system, information network or any information technology means that belong to state institutions.”

Dubai Police also expressly warned against harm, destruction or disruption of the state-owned information technology means or cancellation, deletion, destruction, changing, copying or republishing of data of confidentiality.

For cyber attackers the prison term will be no less than five years and the fine will range between AED250,000 ($68k) and AED1.5m ($409k). The minimum imprisonment will be five years if the crime is committed in connection with data or information related to state information systems.