Another celebrity was fined in Dubai for flouting Covid-19 safety regulations and throwing a party. On Thursday, police said the Arab woman was fined Dh10,000 for organising a house party and inviting many guests, including social media influencers. Videos of the party surfaced online, leading police to summon the woman in for questioning. The video showed guests not wearing face masks or adhering to physical distancing rules that require people to maintain a two-metre distance from each other. Brig Jamal Al Jallaf, director of criminal investigations at Dubai Police, said each identified guest will also be summoned to a police station to receive a Dh5,000 fine. It was the second time an Arab celebrity was penalised after being caught hosting a crowded party this week. On Sunday, police arrested television actress Mariam Hussein for flouting Covid-19 safety measures after footage of her celebrating her birthday party at a venue in the city's financial district circulated online. She was taken in for questioning by police and was fined Dh10,000. Her guests were also fined Dh5,000 each. Hussein, who lives in Dubai and is Moroccan, told <em>The National </em>she regretted the incident, saying it was not planned and that the restaurant surprised her with a birthday cake and diners crowded to take pictures. “Surveillance cameras can confirm that it all went unplanned. “I am aware of how strict measures are taken against offenders. "I would not break them just to celebrate my birthday, but I may have made a mistake by allowing fans to approach too close for pictures and felt embarrassed to reject their requests.” She said she regretted what happened and said she usually abides by the safety measures that are in place to protect the public. Officials have repeatedly stressed the need for the public to follow rules on physical distancing, the wearing of masks and other precautions, as new daily Covid-19 cases remain relatively high.
