Dubai: With cooler weather in the UAE and an ensuing increase in UK residents holidaying in the country to visit expats, the British Embassy in the UAE is asking all of its subjects to take extra care when out and about.
Visitors from the UK are also attending large public events such as the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix this coming weekend as well as Dubai Rugby Sevens starting on November 30.
The British Embassy on Thursday said it has rolled out a social media campaign for all British visitors to take precautionary steps to stay safe.
The ‘Stay Safe’ campaign, which is running on the embassy’s social media accounts, uses light-hearted sketches to convey the messages, including the importance of staying with friends on nights out, using licensed taxis, and keeping an eye on drinks when in bars, clubs or restaurants.
UK Ambassador to the UAE Philip Parham said in a statement on Thursday that it’s always good to be on the alert when living abroad.
“We are fortunate to have such strong people-to-people links between our countries. Around 1.5 million British nationals visit the UAE every year and more than 100,000 are residents here. Most stays are trouble-free. However, it is sensible for us all to avoid complacency,” Parham said.
“So this campaign is about highlighting some key personal safety issues. And, if any British nationals do find themselves victims of crime, we at the embassy stand ready to assist.”
The latest campaign follows the “Checking in” campaign in September to ensure smooth arrival for new UK expatriates who moved to the UAE at the time to enrol their children in schools across the country.
