A TikToker has been arrested in Dubai for mocking wealthy Emiratis.
He Was Accused of Spreading Propaganda
TikToker Hamdan Al Rind has been accused of “abusing the internet” by posting “propaganda that stirs up the public opinion and harms the public interest” on TikTok. In the video, he’s wearing a kandura – the white robe commonly worn by men in the UAE.
He Went to a Car Rental Showroom
The video takes place at a luxury car rental showroom, which the TikToker walked into while two men followed him with a stack of cash. “Where’s boss?” the influencer asked a woman. He handed her a stack of cash and bluntly said: “Go buy coffee.”
He Spoke to the Owner
Hamdan followed the woman’s instructions and found the boss. “You work here? What is most expensive?” he said to the owner. The boss asked Hamdan what his budget was and took him to a Ferrari SF90. “I need more expensive. This is what my driver will drive,” Hamdan said.
He Handed Out More Money
Hamdan confidently strutted around the building, loudly inquiring about cars. “You work here?” he asked, spotting another employee. The TikToker gave away a second wad of cash, instructing the employee – like the last one – to get coffee.
Hamdan Has Been Arrested
Since posting the video, the TikToker – who has over 2 million followers – has been arrested for posting content that fails to comply with media content standards and defames Emirati society. Hamdan is an “Asian national residing in the UAE”, according to authorities.
The Owner Thought Hamdan Was an Emirati Citizen
Mr. Mansour, the owner in the video, thought Hamdan was an Emirati citizen. He said: “He came in. He wanted to shoot a video. I said yes. If it didn’t happen in my showroom, it probably would have happened somewhere else. Some people thought it was offensive, some people thought it was funny, and everyone has their own opinion. I thought he understood the law.”
Hamdan Has His Own Car Dealership
These types of videos are nothing new for Hamdan, who operates his own car dealership in the UAE. The influencer has posted satirical videos before, including one in which he pretended to be a wealthy Emirati buying cars for four different wives.
The UAE Public Prosecution Released a Statement
Following Hamdan’s arrest, the UAE Public Prosecution released a statement: “The Public Prosecution for Combating Rumors and Electronic Crimes has ordered the detention of the owner of a video clip that disseminates provocative propaganda with the capacity to stir public opinion. The Federal Public Prosecution for Combating Rumors and Electronic Crimes has ordered the pre-trial detention of an Asian national resident pending investigations. He has been charged with several offenses, including using the internet to disseminate provocative propaganda with the capacity to stir public opinion and harm public interest. He is also accused of disseminating content that fails to comply with media content standards and defames Emirati society.”
Hamdan’s Story Made Its Way to Reddit
The TikToker’s story quickly made its way to Reddit, where it was discussed in detail. Several people found Hamdan’s behavior to be reckless, especially given the UAE’s international reputation when it comes to laws and arrests. One individual wrote: “Wait, so he wasn’t even local? Makes what he did even more stupid.”
Some Found Hamdan’s Video to Be Disrespectful
Some Redditors found the TikToker’s video to be deeply disrespectful and, in some cases, racist. One person wrote: “I guess, on the surface, the video may seem harmless to non-locals. But, in truth, it’s borderline racist, playing into age-old stereotypes of the rich Arab. We get enough of that from Hollywood. And yes, this would’ve been just as problematic if he was an Arab living in India, for example, pretending to be Indian and making videos that play off Indian stereotypes.”
Others Criticized Hamdan for a Lack of Originality
Some Redditors refrained from giving their opinion on the UAE’s laws or Hamdan’s behavior and simply accused him of lacking originality. One individual wrote: “Saw this video yesterday and thought that it might get the guy into trouble. A lot of comedians feel they can attract views with such absurd videos. There is no meaningful content these days. It’s just a repeat of what others are doing.”
Others Discussed the Inaccuracies in Hamdan’s Portrayal of an Emirati Man
Some Redditors, particularly those from the UAE, found Hamdan’s portrayal of an Emirati man to be offensive and wildly inaccurate. One Redditor wrote: “This definitely is not the behavior of an Emirati. They will never brag like this, plus they don’t talk as fast as this man.”
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