Internet regulators have blocked new websites advertising escort services in Dubai after discovering they were accessible to the general public.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) told XPRESS that it has blocked such sites following complaints that professional courtesans and escorts were selling their services online.
One website in particular, dubai-elite-escort.com, was accessible by internet users who were logged on using regular etisalat internet accounts.
"Our beautiful escort girls are available for incall and outcall appointments in Dubai," the site read. "Incalls take place in five-star hotel in the city centre, Shaikh Zayed Road."
The site allowed patrons to scroll through candid images of high-end courtesans, some of whom charge over Dh30,000 for overnight services and claim to be international models.
A TRA spokesman said the authority was now aware of the dubai-elite-escort website's availability and instructed etisalat to block the site.
"The website is blocked, as all other similar websites, if there are any," the spokesman told XPRESS.
Owners of the dubai-elite-escort website did not reply to an e-mail asking for their reaction to the ban by the TRA.
British expatriate Sarah Cross said she was surprised when her computer opened the website that advertises escort girls in Dubai.
"The thing I find frustrating is that this escort site gets through but then they pointlessly block things such as Orkut.com," she said.
A resident of Al Barsha, Cross said she uses a regular etisalat proxy server and was curious when the website popped up on her computer screen.
"The TRA says that orkut.com is a sex site but then they don't mind if this escort service is up there. There should be some consistency," she said.
Sites such as expatriates.com have also been targeted by government regulators. Sites offering personal dating services are blocked as is the classified category offering "escort" services in the UAE.
A woman who runs the website dubaicourtesan.com declined to speak to XPRESS, but her site clearly suggests she targets the wealthy as potential clients, and charges high prices for her services.
Another classified advertisement from the expats' website claimed to offer "Indian Bollywood actresses" as escorts.
Keeping Watch
- Since 2005, the TRA has acted as the government-appointed body responsible for ensuring that internet subject matter and imagery involving sex, racism, hate crimes and terrorism are not disseminated in the UAE
- Internet providers in countries in which sexual content is prohibited such as the UAE – use software programs that automatically ban certain web locations from being viewed by identifying the sites by category
- Sexual sites are put under a "sexually explicit category" and when a user in the UAE attempts to log on, the filtering software kicks in and prevents the webpage from being viewed
Your comments
Is Etisalat trying to joke? The site is still very much unblocked!!
Anonymous, UAE - Dubai
Posted: August 14, 2007, 11:12
I am very impressed by the work that TRA do with regards to this issue. Many of us in Canada have no restriction to these kinds of sites. As a result we have more violence. But there in the UAE it’s very hard to find sex, racism, hate crimes and terrorism because thanks to TRA they are doing their jobs very well by keeping the society free from violence that arises due to internet usage. Good job, TRA. I wish you the best of luck in the future.
Zab, Canada
Posted: August 13, 2007, 17:42
You should have confirmed the block and then published this article. Man, your article has just led to many people visiting the site.
Anonymous, UAE - Fujairah
Posted: August 13, 2007, 15:34
Well this is good. But some important websites are also blocked.
Mike, UAE - Dubai
Posted: August 13, 2007, 11:34
The sites are still accessible from my Dubai Media City internet, so I congratulate you, you have just given those girls FREE ADVERTISING!!!!
Anonymous, UAE - Dubai
Posted: August 13, 2007, 10:22
Are you joking? The site is still available.
Jebel, UAE - Dubai
Posted: August 13, 2007, 09:34
I applaud the TRA for trying to keep this kind of filth out of our lives. It is frightfully easy for kids and teens using the internet to access immoral material and any effort to curb this is most welcome. However, as a resident of the Springs community I have to point out that our internet connection is not controlled by a proxy, and yes, any and all sites are accessible if you're living nearby these areas. It is my humble request to the TRA to have some kind of control over this as well.
Zainab, UAE - Dubai
Posted: August 13, 2007, 08:41
