UAE blocks 13,667 websites in first quarter of 2026: ministry

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UAE blocks 13,667 websites in first quarter of 2026: ministry

April 29, 2026

ABU DHABI,— The Ministry of Economy and Tourism said it blocked 13,667 violating websites in the first quarter of 2026, marking about 400% growth compared with the same period last year, the state-run news agency reported.

Since the InstaBlock Lab began operations in February 2025, authorities have taken down 47,667 websites.

The system uses artificial intelligence to detect violations in real time and handle copyright infringement reports linked to online broadcasting and digital content.

Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for Intellectual Property, said the initiative reflects a national effort to protect intellectual property rights and build a secure digital space that supports innovation and competitiveness.

The ministry coordinated with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority along with partners such as Abu Dhabi Media Network, MBC Shahid, OSN, Yango Play, STARZPLAY, the Brand Owner Council and Nissan Middle East.

Enforcement increased during Ramadan, with blocked sites rising from 62 in 2023 to 1,117 in 2024, 2,217 in 2025 and 5,677 in 2026.

Officials said the campaign also promotes awareness of licensed content use and supports the We the UAE 2031 strategy to strengthen the knowledge economy and improve global digital content protection standards.

Dubai enforces Internet content restrictions consistent with UAE federal law and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) guidelines. Blocking aims to restrict content that violates public morals, national security, religion, or cybercrimes.

The list below summarizes categories and typical site types that are blocked or restricted; specific domains change over time and some sites may be partially accessible (e.g., via HTTPS) until filtered.

Major categories of blocked/restricted sites

Pornography and adult content
- All mainstream commercial porn sites and many adult-image/escort platforms.
- Image-hosting or social sites that contain explicit material may be filtered or subject to takedown requests.
Gambling and betting
- Online casinos, sports-betting platforms, and sites offering betting services.
VoIP and some communication apps (partial/conditional)
- Historically, VoIP services and some features of messaging apps have been restricted. Officially permitted VoIP services exist through licensed providers; many global VoIP services (or their calling features) have been blocked intermittently or limited.
- Video/voice calling on some versions of WhatsApp, Skype, FaceTime, Google Meet, Zoom and similar services have experienced blocks or degraded functionality at times; availability can vary by operator and licensing.
Content deemed offensive to religion, morality, or national symbols
- Websites with anti-Islamic, blasphemous, or proselytizing content.
- Content insulting UAE leaders, emblems, or laws is removed or blocked.
Political dissent, activism, and criticism of the state
- Sites promoting political opposition, calls for unrest, or critical reporting that the authorities consider harmful to security or public order.
Hate speech, extremism and terrorist content
- Sites supporting extremist organizations, recruitment, or propaganda.
Copyright-infringing and piracy portals
- Major torrent and streaming piracy sites and direct-download platforms are frequently blocked.
Fraud, phishing, malware and cybercrime services
- Sites engaged in scams, phishing, distribution of malware, or selling illegal goods/services.
Certain dating sites and LGBTQ+ content
- Dating platforms or sites presenting sexual content contrary to local public decency standards; material explicitly about LGBTQ+ sexual content is often blocked or restricted.
VPN/Anonymizer services (selective blocking)
- Some VPN providers, anonymizers, or proxy services that are known to bypass UAE filtering are blocked; enforcement targets unlicensed commercial circumvention tools.

How blocks are implemented and what that means for users

National-level filtering: ISPs apply TRA rules; blocking is typically done at the network level using DNS hijacking, IP blocking, URL filtering and SNI/HTTPS inspection. This means:
- Many blocked sites produce connection timeouts, “page cannot be displayed,” or provider-branded block pages.
- Some HTTPS sites may be blocked at SNI level or by IP addresses; others can be intermittently reachable.
Licensed alternatives: VoIP restrictions are mitigated via licensed “calling” apps offered by UAE telcos that comply with local regulations (enterprise or consumer offerings).
Dynamic and opaque list: The TRA does not publish a comprehensive public blocklist. New sites can be added or removed; enforcement intensifies after high-profile incidents, elections, or security alerts.

Practical examples (typical, illustrative)

Pornography: Most mainstream adult domains are inaccessible.
Gambling: Leading online sportsbooks and casino portals are blocked.
Piracy: Popular torrent index and streaming piracy sites are frequently blocked.
Some global VoIP providers: At times, Skype voice/video, FaceTime, WhatsApp calling or parts of Zoom have seen restrictions; functionality can change after commercial licensing or regulatory decisions.
Political/activist blogs or regional dissident sites have been blocked when deemed to threaten security.

What travelers and residents should know

Do not assume access parity with other countries; expect adult, gambling, extremist, piracy and certain political or religious material to be blocked.
Using blocked content can carry legal and civil consequences if it involves illegal activity under UAE law.
Licensed business VPNs and corporate remote access solutions can be used legally for work when compliant with UAE regulations; use of unauthorized circumvention tools can be unlawful.
For critical needs (business VoIP, remote work), obtain approved services from local telcos or use officially licensed enterprise solutions.

Sources and currency

Summary reflects UAE/TRA policy trends and public reporting through May 2024; specific blocked domains and the status of particular apps can change rapidly. For definitive, up-to-date details consult the local ISP, TRA advisories, or legal counsel for compliance-sensitive matters.

(With files from WAM, Quora.com)