Abu Dhabi court orders Dh20,000 fine for insulting WhatsApp messages

Abu Dhabi: A civil court in Abu Dhabi has ordered a man to pay Dh20,000 in damages after he sent a series of insulting messages over WhatsApp and followed up with abusive phone calls.

The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court ruled that the remarks caused the plaintiff emotional distress and violated provisions of the country’s civil law that hold individuals financially liable for harm inflicted on others.

Court documents show the plaintiff had sought Dh90,000 in compensation, arguing that the insults had left him with ongoing psychological and social harm. 

He pointed to evidence from a prior criminal case in which the defendant was found guilty of the verbal abuse.

In its reasoning, the court cited Articles 292 and 293 of the Civil Transactions Law, which establish liability for damages even when the harm is intangible. 

The ruling noted that the insults amounted to “moral damage” reflected in pain and humiliation, warranting financial redress.

While the award fell short of the amount claimed, the court said Dh20,000 was an appropriate measure of compensation given the circumstances. The defendant was also ordered to cover court fees and legal expenses.