UAE: Teen fined Dh1,000 for leaving 'offensive' note on woman's car

A 19-year-old Emirati has been fined Dh1,000 after being found guilty of violating the public decency act. The incident, which took place in a public parking lot near a café in the Port Rashid area, involved the young man leaving an offensive handwritten note on a woman's car.

The incident occurred on November 10, 2023, when the woman, also an Emirati, parked her white Mercedes and entered the café with her husband. About an hour later, the husband returned to the vehicle, only to find a handwritten note on the windshield containing language deemed inappropriate and offensive.

Upon discovering the note, the husband immediately took a photo of it and sent it to his wife, who then promptly reported the incident to the police.

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Authorities quickly launched an investigation. After reviewing surveillance footage from the area, the authorities identified the young man, who was driving a vehicle registered in Abu Dhabi. The police contacted him, and he later confessed to placing the note on the car.

During questioning, the defendant explained that he had written the note as a joke, intending it to be a prank. He also admitted that he did not know the car’s owner and had no prior connection to her, adding that his only goal was to provoke a reaction. However, he left the scene before seeing any potential reaction due to his actions.

The defendant expressed regret for his actions, admitting he had not anticipated the consequences of his behaviour.

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