On the one hand, this is a scary example of the vulnerability we all have to having our privacy invaded, even by “legitimate” organizations.  It is analagous to the continuing fight in China over the software the government is trying to require PC makers pre-install on their units that would allow them to block certain sites.

On the other hand, it shows how hard it is to get away with this stuff.  The democratization of communications means there are millions of watchdogs constantly on the lookout for stunts like this.  Outside of an unpersuasive denial, the company had no substantive comment.  No indication on whether the government of UAE was involved.