Young man arrested in Dubai for dancing indecently in a local cafe

Dubai: Dubai Police have arrested a young man who appeared in a viral video dancing indecently in a local cafe.

Police tweeted on Sunday that the man was arrested on charges of committing an 'indecent act'. Officers also arrested another man who recorded the video and posted it on social media. He was taken into custody on charges of posting online content that violates public morality.

Police, in coordination with Dubai Muncipality and Dubai Tourism, also fined and shut down the cafe.

According to a Dubai Police press release, a young man was  arrested on a charge of 'committing a publicly indecent act'.

According to Brigadier Jamal Salem Al Jallaf, Director of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Dubai Police, the police team took action against the man when the indecent video of him started circulating on social media.

“The Criminal Data Analysis Centre of Dubai Police identified the young man in the video and also the man who recorded the video and posted it online,” Brig. Al Jallaf said.

He also noted that 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.

Fine up to Dh1m

Brig. Al Jallaf further explained that Article 24 of the UAE’s cyber-crime law states that creating or running an electronic site to publish, online or through any information technology means, any content, programs or ideas which would damage public decency is punishable with temporary imprisonment and a fine of Dh500,000 to Dh1 million.

Cafe shut down

Brig. Al Jallaf added that Dubai Police, in coordination with the Department of Economic Development, Dubai Municipality and the ‪Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, have fined and closed the ‬cafe‪ for failing to adhere to COVID-19 protocols.