Dubai court fines man Dhs5,000 for insulting nurse online
- Last updated: September 9, 2025 | 18:21
Mohammed Yaseen, Staff Reporter
Dubai Appellate Court upheld the Court of First Instance’s ruling fining a young Arab man Dhs5,000, suspending the sentence for three years, confiscating his phone, and ordering the removal of defamatory comments from a website. The ruling is now final and enforceable unless challenged before a higher court.
He was convicted of defaming a nurse working at a medical fitness centre via a Google Review, which was deemed harmful and damaging to her professional reputation.
The case dates back to when an Arab nurse at a medical fitness centre in Al Karama, Dubai, filed a complaint stating she was insulted and defamed while performing her duties.
The incident reportedly took place during normal working hours in the facility’s phlebotomy section.
She pointed out that she was tasked to draw a blood sample from the young man for his residency renewal, but he later filed a complaint against her, alleging she was unprofessional in taking samples and failed to follow proper medical procedures.
During interrogations, the nurse revealed that the man accused her of being under the influence of alcohol while working, a serious allegation that prompted an internal review.
The nurse added that a colleague informed her of a defamatory comment posted against her and the medical centre on Google Review, which included harsh and personal criticism.
A team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) identified the account holder responsible for the Google Review and arrested his owner after confirming the digital trail.
During questioning, he admitted to the charges, explaining that he had visited Al Karama medical centre for a blood test to renew his residency.
He claimed the nurse inserted the needle forcefully into his right hand, causing bleeding, and repeated the same on his other hand, which led to pain and visible bruising.
He then filed a complaint with the centre and posted a negative review in both Arabic and English on Google, describing the incident from his perspective and expressing dissatisfaction.