Man who was detained in Dubai warns of ‘horrific fate’ for influencers posting about war

Influencers whose posts about the Iran conflict spoil Dubai’s carefully cultivated image as a safe haven face ‘a fate that will be horrific beyond imagining’, a British lawyer once detained there has warned.

Heavily posed videos of sun-drenched beaches, luxury hotels and high-end parties were replaced by jittery hand-held clips of smoke plumes billowing from skyscrapers when the fighting broke out.

But social media users were quick to spot when those posts suddenly stopped, and a new trend appeared to emerge.

Scores of influencers all began publishing posts praising the government using suspiciously similar language.

They begin with words to the effect of ‘You live in Dubai, aren’t you scared?’ before cutting to slow-motion footage of the country’s leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the caption: ‘No, because I know who protects us.’

The cringe posts triggered accusations the social media stars were being paid to pump out propaganda as part of a concerted PR campaign.

But David Haigh, a British lawyer once detained in Dubai, fears there is a more sinister side to it.

Only this week a 60-year-old British man was arrested after allegedly filming Iranian missiles while on holiday in the Gulf.

It is unknown whether the footage was shared on social media and he could still be released without charge.

However, if prosecutors decide to pursue the case under the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) strict cybercrime laws he could face up to two years in jail for a hefty fine.  

Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Haigh said: ‘Absolutely no content can be posted that could damage the Dubai brand.

‘That means no pictures of missile damage, no footage of interceptor missiles taking out drones, no audio of explosions, no panicked selfie videos recorded in cellars, bunkers or safe rooms.

‘Those who fail to obey the edict are finding out just what it means to upset the Emiratis. At least one person has been arrested for filming a missile strike.

‘They now face a fate that will be horrific beyond imagining.’

Mr Haigh, who claims he was sexually and physically abused during his detention there a decade ago, said ‘absolutely no content can be posted that could damage the Dubai brand’.

Even rescue workers have been jailed for posting photos of emergencies, he said, adding that ‘no one is exempt’ from the constraints.

Authorities have reportedly warned the United Arab Emirate’s (UAE) online creator community that posts deemed harmful to ‘public order’ or ‘national unity’ could result in fines exceeding £50,000 – or even jail.

One influencer revealed she had taken down a video showing debris in flames outside her building because they ‘have to be very careful about what they say’.

British content creator Ben Moss told the Mail: ‘I do feel completely safe here because of the UAE air defences, but the laws can sometimes concern me so I always keep everything positive.

‘I’m far more scared of being fined or jailed for posting the wrong content than I am of the Iranian missiles and drones.’

Metro has contacted the Government of Dubai Media Centre for comment.

The clampdown is not exclusive to the UAE.

In nearby Qatar, which has also been targeted in Iran’s bombardment of the region, more than 300 people have been detained for ‘filming and circulating videos, spreading rumours and publishing misleading information’ related to the war.

And Kuwait’s government has banned the publication of anything related to the fighting, ABC News reports.

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