UAE blocks 14,100+ piracy websites during 2026 World Cup enforcement drive
The UAE's Ministry of Economy and Tourism blocked 14,122 websites and applications for illegally broadcasting sports content during the 2026 Fifa World Cup, as part of a crackdown on digital piracy by its "InstaBlock" centre.
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The UAE's Ministry of Economy and Tourism blocked 14,122 websites and applications for illegally broadcasting sports content during the 2026 Fifa World Cup through its "InstaBlock" centre. The figure comprised 9,595 domains and 4,527 IP addresses, taken down through the centre's monitoring and rapid-response system in cooperation with relevant authorities and local economic departments.
The ministry also carried out more than 370 field inspection visits to commercial establishments during the tournament, focusing on cafes and restaurants. The visits identified 287 non-compliant establishments not using licensed broadcasting channels.
Since InstaBlock was established in February 2025, the total number of websites and applications blocked for violating sports broadcasting regulations has reached 68,401. The ministry noted enforcement activity rising from 1,132 sites blocked in 2023, 4,557 in 2024, and 21,000 in 2025.
The InstaBlock system receives reports and complaints from rights holders about infringing websites or applications, which are then referred to the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) for blocking action. The process of identifying an offending site and completing the blocking procedure takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
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Reported by: Khaleej Times 6 Aug 2026 Read the original ↗ More from Khaleej Times →
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Khaleej Times (UAE).
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6 Aug 2026.
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Read the original at Khaleej Times: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/uae-blocks-over-14100-piracy-websites-during-2026-fifa-world-cup
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