A highly inflammable 13-second video has gone viral on Dubai social media platforms, creating an uproar and full-scale cultural debate. The clip, posted on X (formerly Twitter), shows a woman dining in a restaurant. There’s a brief shot of another woman in a burqa (an Islamic face-covering veil) eating at a different table. Laughter can be heard from the person filming, though the context of the conversation remains unclear. It has attracted over 2.6 million views and triggered an avalanche of discussions online, including calls to action.
Watch the clip:
في دبي امرأه اوربيه غير مسلمه تصور سائحه خليجية و تسخر من دينها
اين شرطة دبي؟ @DubaiPoliceHQ
لماذا لا يتم القبض و من ثم الإحاله للنيابه؟ هل عندهم قوانين تحفظ كرامة و خصوصية السائحة الخليجيه و تمنع تصويرها بدون اذنها و التشهير بها؟
اين حقوق الانسان اين احترام الشعائر الدينية؟ pic.twitter.com/6ELuVWBNvP— 🇸🇦 🏆 المكريه (@ALMKRIA) January 2, 2025
This has sparked complaints from many, with most tagging the local authorities and demanding legal repercussions for the tourists. The UAE is known for its strictness in following the Islamic traditions and has laws prohibiting the filming of local women without their consent. Dubai Police released a statement in Arabic in response to the rising outcry: “Thank you for contacting Dubai Police General Command. The matter has been transferred to the relevant authority to take the necessary measures.”
انا والله ماقد رحتها ولابروحها
— 🇸🇦 🏆 المكريه (@ALMKRIA) January 2, 2025
Social Media Reactions:
The video has caused mixed reactions on social media. Many of the users reacted with anger and concern about the cultural insensitivity portrayed. This is just a blatant invasion of privacy. When traveling to other countries, one must learn to respect other cultures,” said another.
“I find it embarrassing to see visitors mocking the traditions this publicly. Nothing like this goes without consequences.”
“People should remember that Dubai is not an arena for behaving badly. It is because of the laws and rules that have been established for such purposes,” added another.
However, it was not the case for everyone. One critic said, “Although it is improper, isn’t this reaction a bit exaggerated?” Another pointed out that there must be education, not punishment. “Tourists should be enlightened about local laws to avoid this kind of incidence.”
