Dubai Police arrest two men for posting indecent dance video on social media

The cafe where the video was recorded was shut down for failing to adhere to Covid-19 safety measures

The woman was discovered by police on patrol in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Dubai Police have arrested two men for recording and posting an indecent dance video that went viral on social media.

Brig Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, director of Dubai Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), said the dancer was charged with committing an indecent act in public.

“The force has also arrested the person who recorded and posted the video on social media platforms on a charge of posting online content that’s against public morality,” he said.

“Action was taken immediately against the young men as soon as the indecent video started circulating across social media platforms.

“Article 358 of the UAE Penal code states that whoever openly commits an indecent and disgraceful act shall be punished by detention for a period of at least six months."

As per the country’s cybercrime law, anyone who posts indecent online content can be fined between Dh500,000 and Dh1 million, he said.

The cafe where the incident happened was also fined and shut down for failing to adhere to precautionary measures, officials said.

“Dubai Police, in coordination with the Department of Economic Development (DED), Dubai Municipality and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, have fined and shut down the café for failing to adhere to the announced precautionary measures against Covid-19,” Brig Al Jallaf said.