A Jordanian private news agency has praised the UAE for enacting an anti-discrimination law as a new step reflecting the UAE's civilisation and respect for all people regardless of their race, colour, nationality or faith.

The UAE anti-discriminatory law was issued on Monday following a decree by the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan against any form of discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, creed, doctrine, race, colour or ethnic origin.

In an article by its political editor, Ammon News said the new law also reflects the UAE's recognition of the real cause of the tragedies and calamities that our nation is suffering.

The law criminalises any acts that stoke religious hatred and/or which insult religion through any form of expression, be it speech or the written word, books, pamphlets or via online media.

"The law comes at a hard and critical time for our nation as rampant violence and hate rhetoric impact the stability of Arab and foreign countries alike," the editorial said.

According to the law, strict action will be taken against any form of expressions of hatred or incitement to hate crimes, spread in the form of speech and published media, to protect society from any attempt to damage its security.