In a wave of backlash, Dubai influencers have criticized those who have fled the conflict-stricken city, labeling them as ‘ungrateful’ and referring to them disparagingly as ‘brokies’.
Mitchell Armstrong, a notable presence on TikTok, has voiced his opinion that individuals who have remained in Dubai are thriving financially, stating that they have either “profited off the war or made more money” due to being “more locked in” during these turbulent times.
Amidst this controversy, over 63,000 British nationals have repatriated from the Middle East since the conflict erupted, as reported by government statistics. This mass exodus underscores the precarious situation in the region.
Adding fuel to the fire, there are allegations that some influencers residing in the United Arab Emirates are being compensated to disseminate ‘propaganda’. These content creators, boasting large followings, have been posting videos featuring Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, accompanied by captions like “I know who protects us,” as tensions with Iran escalate.
In contrast, authorities in Abu Dhabi are taking a hard stance, having arrested 45 individuals of various nationalities. These arrests were made on charges of ‘spreading misinformation and filming and sharing event locations,’ linked to purported footage of attacks. This highlights the ongoing struggle to control the narrative during these chaotic times.
Meanwhile, 45 people of ‘various nationalities’ have been arrested by police in Abu Dhabi for ‘spreading misinformation and filming and sharing event locations’ over alleged footage showing attacks.
In total, as of yesterday, 285 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,567 drones from Iran have been intercepted, the UAE’s Ministry of Defence said.
Over the last couple of weeks, Dubai has been attacked on several occasions, including its airports and the city’s financial centre, with videos showing plumes of smoke billowing into the sky.
However, Mr Armstrong has maintained ‘nothing has changed for him’, insisting his daily routine of hitting the sauna, steam room and enjoying his ‘$2.1million’ apartment has continued whilst also taking aim at those who fled the city.
‘Like nothing has changed for me. While you guys were all running around acting like brokies, “oh my god, there’s bombs, oh my god, let’s get out of Dubai”,’ he told his 31,100 followers in a mocking tone.
Dubai influencers have hit out at Brits who have fled the United Arab Emirates city branding them ‘ungrateful’ (Pictured: Soudi)
Mitchell Armstrong (pictured) claimed those who stayed in the city have ‘either profited off the war or made more money’ because they ‘were more locked in’
Smoke billowed from a building in Dubai’s International Financial Centre yesterday
‘All the rich guys, all the guys making money, printing bread either profited off the war or made more money because we are more locked in.’
Panning to the view of Dubai from his balcony, he added: ‘Like, look at this, nothing changed, nothing changed.
‘People running around like headless chickens, like the world is ending, and now four days in a row, we have had nothing in Dubai.
‘No bombs, no crackles, no nothing, no missile interceptions.’
Claiming ‘all the guys that fled are trying to come back to Dubai’, he added: ‘All my boys have been messaging me today, “oh we are thinking of coming back this week”.’
While laughing, he plunged his head back into a pool and repeated: ‘Why did you leave then? Why did you leave?’
And he is not the only influencer to condemn those who have decided to come back to the safety of their home countries, with Soudi also sharing her thoughts on the ‘very ungrateful’ who have fled.
‘As you can see, it is very quiet and peaceful in Dubai at the moment, but for those people who want to leave, let them leave. I just think they are very ungrateful,’ she said in a video, which now has over 62,000 views.
‘Less traffic and less scammers, please. The best era for Dubai was 2015, so let’s bring that back – if you know, you know.’
‘I seriously don’t think people’s home countries are any better. They have no idea what they are going back to.’
And while she noted that it was ‘very quiet’ and ‘everyone had a little PTSD from the overhead noises’, she insisted there ‘is nowhere else [she] would rather be at the moment’.
Dubai’s international airport has been attacked on multiple occasions and four people were injured after a strike on Wednesday
Influencers in Dubai have been posting identical videos emphasising the safety of the city which have been seen millions of times
One expert said that it appeared ‘suspicious’ that the videos were identical and could have started out as a ‘paid trend’ (Pictured: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum)
Soudi added: ‘All of the OGs that have been in Dubai for longer than ten years or more are all staying. It’s literally the people who have just moved out here that are leaving.
‘And honestly, they are the types of people that I don’t mind leaving, let’s be honest here. But I am sorry somebody had to say it.’
Hitting out at those who had returned once again, she added: ‘Why are some people coming back from Dubai acting like they actually fought in the war? Guys, are you in the same Dubai right now?
‘Are you coming back from the same Dubai, because I have no idea what these people are on about.
‘They are acting like they just got off a plane from the front line,’ she said, panning to the scenery around her. ‘I am sorry, do you guys see anything that is going on. I don’t think so.’
Describing the conflict as a ‘speed hump’, Soudi continued: ‘And I still feel very grateful that I live in one of the safest countries in the world. Like, there is quite literally nowhere else I would rather be right now.
‘At this point, the only thing I am really worried about is the holidays I have booked. Do I go or do I stay?’
It comes as wealthy Brits fleeing the conflict in the Gulf are heading to Ireland and France to avoid huge tax bills in the UK.
Those with a high net worth who were previously living in the UAE are hoping to bide their time in other countries rather than risk facing HM Revenue and Customs.
Many residents living overseas have already ‘spent’ the number of days on British soil they are allowed to without paying tax.
And with only three weeks left of the financial year, some are trying to get an extra 60 days free of tax in the UK from HMRC under an ‘exceptional circumstances’ provision.
Nimesh Shah, the chief executive of advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, said he had received ‘a disproportionate number of calls’ from those fleeing the UAE in recent weeks.
Shah has urged them not to rely on the ‘exceptional circumstances’ provision as he says HMRC view UAE expats as having moved not to pay tax in the UK, and therefore unlikely to give the ‘green light’ for them to stay on British soil without paying.
Abu Dhabi Police announced today that 45 people of ‘various nationalities’ had been arrested ‘for filming various locations during ongoing events and publishing them on social media’
UAE expats trying to come home who have lived outside the UK for fewer than five years might also face paying capital gains tax on any assets or firm sold during the time they spent overseas.
One wealthy business owner, who is staying in Dublin until the end of the financial year on April 5, told The Guardian: ‘I’m happy to pay income tax and tax on investments next tax year, but I don’t want the sale of a business that I sold years ago to fall within UK capital gains tax.
‘I paid for my own travel home, by the way.’
Meanwhile, another British entrepreneur, who was previously based in the UAE, said he would be residing in France for the time being.
Another British UAE-based business owner said they would spend some time in France for now.
The number of days a person who claims they are a non-resident for tax purposes can stay in the UK depends on several factors, including their links to the country, whether they have a spouse or children here, and whether they have accommodation.
Many who decided to emigrate over the last few years can stay in the UK for 45 days before they fall back under the country’s domestic tax rules and regulations.
Depending on their circumstances, others may be permitted to stay for up to 183 days during a tax year without having to pay.
