Big action by UAE government, more than 13,000 websites blocked, digital piracy will no longer work

The UAE government has greatly intensified its action against digital theft i.e. piracy. In the first quarter of 2026 itself, 13,667 such websites were closed which were showing wrong content. With the help of a system called InstaBlock, keeping an eye on the internet has now become even easier.

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What is InstaBlock and how many websites did it block?

InstaBlock Lab was started in February 2025. This system has blocked a total of 47,667 websites so far. In the first three months of 2026, 13,667 websites were closed, which is about 400 percent more than the same time last year. Even during Ramadan 2026, 5,677 websites were removed, whereas in 2023 this number was only 62.

What does the government say and what new rules have come?

Dr. Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, said that this step has been taken to make the digital world secure and promote innovation. This entire campaign is being run under the vision “We the UAE 2031”.

• Trademark Rules: On 27 January 2026, the UAE adopted the 13th edition of the Nice Classification for trademarks.
• Fast check: A new rule came into effect from February 1, 2026, due to which trademark services can now be examined in just one day.

With which organizations is this action being taken?

Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) is working closely with the government in this campaign. Additionally, an agreement has been reached with La Liga to prevent illegal audio and visual content. It also includes big names like Abu Dhabi Media Network, MBC Shahid, OSN and STARZPLAY.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does InstaBlock work?

It uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to monitor websites in real time and block them as soon as it receives reports of copyright infringement.

What has changed in trademark rules?

UAE has adopted the 13th edition of Nice Classification and now one day fast track examination facility has been introduced for trademark services.