CLAIM

Viral image of UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan from Epstein files

RATING JUSTIFICATION

The iVerify Pakistan team investigated this content and determined that it is false.

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a Google reverse image search to trace the original source.

Multiple accounts on the social media platform X, since February 1, 2026, were sharing an image claiming to show UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan being kissed on the cheeks by two women and that it was released in the recent cache of files related to the investigation into Epstein. However, the photo is manipulated.

Epstein, a convicted sex offender and United States financier, was accused of running a years-long sex trafficking network involving underage girls, with abuse linked to multiple properties in the US and overseas. Epstein died in August 2019 in a New York jail while awaiting trial on federal trafficking charges. His close associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was later convicted by a US court for recruiting and grooming minors for Epstein’s abuse and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022.

Millions of new files relating to Epstein have been released by the US Department of Justice, showing many of the world’s most renowned individuals.

HOW IT STARTED

On February 1, an internet personality on X, who describes himself as a political activist in his bio, shared an image claiming to show the UAE president being kissed on the cheeks by two women.

The caption of the post read: “In the newly leaked documents from the Epstein files, it has been revealed that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Emir of Abu Dhabi, met with Jeffrey Epstein on his private island. Bin Zayed, who supports Israel in the massacre taking place in Gaza, is also implicated in the theft of gold in Sudan and its sale together with Israel.”

The post garnered over 3.5 million views.

The same image was also shared by digital media outlet RKM Times on X with the caption: “Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan family also caught in the Epstein files. This is why the UAE support Israel against Iran and Gaza, now he is exposed to going to the private island for fun on the call of Epstein.”

This post was viewed more than 651,000 times.

Additionally, the same image, with a similar caption, was shared by several other X users, as seen here, here, and here.

The image also circulated on Facebook, as seen here and here.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and keen public interest in the Epstein files.

A Google reverse image search yielded a Facebook post shared by an account named “Save Morocco” on January 25, 2012. The post featured a similar image; however, the face of the man positioned between the two women differed from the viral version.

A side-by-side comparison of the viral image and the 2012 Facebook post shows that the two women, their posture, clothing, the chain worn by the man, and his shirt are identical in both photos. The only discrepancy is the man’s face, which has been digitally altered. In the original image, the man is identified as former Moroccan footballer Marouane Chamakh, whereas in the viral image, his face has been replaced with that of UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The caption of the original Facebook post read: “Now I finally know the secret behind Chamakh’s poor performance in the match… those damn blondes. Chamakh didn’t want to head the ball because he was afraid his hairstyle would get ruined, he wouldn’t get gel anymore, and he wouldn’t be sold in Gabon… haha.”

Further verification shows that the same image was also used by Arabic news websites Arrifino.net in a report related to a football scandal in October 2013. Another Arabic sports website, Hesport.com, also published the image in September 2014.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE​

The claim that a viral image from the Epstein files shows UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan being kissed by two women is false.

The image is digitally manipulated.

EVIDENCE AND REFERENCES

January 25, 2012, original Facebook post:

https://archive.ph/wip/KLxXy

October 25, 2013, Ariffino.net news report:

https://www.ariffino.net/dossiers-speciales-nador/فضيحة-غيريتس-ترك-لاعبي-المنتخب-يستمتع

September 26, 2014, Hesport.com news report:

https://www.hesport.com/من-المحترفين-المنحرفين-هل-يمكن-للزا-17906.html