A Dubai Police chief has issued a warning to social media influencers who are trying to get "likes" by leaving valuables unattended to showcase the emirate's low levels of crime.
Some accounts on TikTok and Instagram have posted videos where a phone or wallet is left alone, or a car or front door is left unlocked, all to prove the emirate's reputation for high levels of safety.
However, Maj Gen Jamal Al Jallaf, director of the force's criminal investigation department, advised against leaving personal items on show in public places such as beaches and shopping centres or leaving homes and cars unsecured, saying these acts were 'neglecting safety'.
Sending out wrong message
"They [social media users] have been finding creative ways to see whether Dubai really is safest city in the world,” he told The National on the sidelines of a recent press conference.
“We saw many videos of people leaving their phones or cars for some time and then return to find them untouched. It’s a spreading culture on social media.”
Maj Gen Al Jallaf spoke out over the dangers of digital content creators instilling a false sense of security among their followers, and although he was proud of Dubai's relatively low levels of crime, he was keen for people not to invite trouble by failing to take commonsense precautions.
“We are proud of the reputation of Dubai as the safest city in the world, but content creators making such online videos are neglecting safety," he said.
He said other videos showed people leaving front doors unlocked when leaving their apartments.
One influencer, going by the username Comp Random, posted a video on TikTok which has been viewed more than 1.2 million times to date.
He is shown in the recording purportedly leaving a GoPro camera, an iPhone and his wallet on a bench at Kite Beach for more than an hour, saying he was “absolutely sure" they wouldn't be stolen.
He said he was inspired by a story he heard about a person who left a $60,000 handbag on a table to reserve it. “Where else can you do that?” he quipped.
He is shown returning to the area to find his possessions untouched.
“Dubai is the best city in the world," he said. "I don't know other cities in the world you can do this in.”
Last year, Baymammet Sarybekov, 32, from Turkmenistan, decided to show how safe Dubai was by leaving his phone and wallet unattended in public places.
The social media personality — known as BaymaBay on TikTok ― said he had lived in several cities across the world but never felt as safe as he does in the emirate.
“The safety in Dubai is unbelievable. People forgot their wallets, phones and valuables in public places but it is safe and untouched,” said Mr Sarybekov in a previous interview with The National.
The UAE was ranked in the top five countries for feeling safe when walking alone at night in Gallup's Global Law and Order reports in 2021 and last year.
Travel insurance website InsureMyTrip in February last year named Dubai as one of the safest cities in the world for solo female travellers.
"Dubai has a very low crime rate and is considered a safe place to travel as a woman, with the majority of public transport in Dubai offering a ‘women’s only section'," the report stated.
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Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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