Federal Law No. (15) of 1980 Concerning Publications and Publishing

Abstract

This legislative text establishes the legal framework governing publications and publishing in the United Arab Emirates. It begins by defining key concepts such as publications, presses, publishers, and authors, then proceeds to regulate the licensing of printing presses, the management of printing activity, and the legal conditions governing the production and circulation of printed materials. In doing so, the law creates an integrated regulatory structure that links publishing activity to legal and administrative oversight, treating publication not merely as a technical or commercial process, but as a domain closely connected to the state’s cultural, media, and normative order.

The law further develops detailed provisions concerning newspapers and periodicals, including licensing requirements for proprietors, editors-in-chief, and responsible editors. It also regulates the import, export, and circulation of printed materials, in addition to licensing rules related to films, public display, and other forms of public dissemination. A distinct section is devoted to prohibited content, restricting materials deemed harmful to religion, morality, state security, public order, or foreign relations, and the law establishes a system of penalties that includes imprisonment, fines, confiscation, suspension, and license cancellation in specified cases. The document therefore stands as a foundational legal reference in the field of publishing and press legislation in the UAE, balancing the sphere of publication with institutional control and legal limitation.