UAE: Social media influencer Abdu Rozik detained at Dubai airport

Tajik singer and social media influencer Abdu Rozik was briefly detained by authorities upon his arrival at Dubai International Airport on Saturday, following a flight from Montenegro.

Speculation quickly surfaced online, with unverified claims linking the arrest to allegations of theft. However, Dubai Police confirmed to Gulf News via the Dubai Media Office that Rozik was indeed arrested at the airport.

Officials have not disclosed the reason for the detention, and no further details were available at the time of reporting.

Abdu Rozik, originally from Tajikistan, holds a UAE Golden Visa and has been living in Dubai for several years. Diagnosed with dwarfism as a child, the singer and internet personality stands just 3 feet 1 inch tall.

He gained global recognition due to his unique stature and is one of the most recognisable young celebrities across the Middle East and South Asia.

Rozik rose to fame as a popular contestant on the Indian reality TV show Bigg Boss 16, hosted by Bollywood star Salman Khan.

Professionally, he has appeared on several reality shows, including Entertainment Ki Raat Housefull and Bigg Boss 16. Most recently, he participated in the Bharti Singh-hosted cooking show Laughter Chefs: Entertainment Unlimited Season 2, where he was paired with YouTuber Elvish Yadav. However, he exited the show midway through Ramadan and was replaced by actor Karan Kundrra.

This is not the first time Rozik has been in the headlines. In 2024, India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned him for questioning in a money laundering probe involving a hospitality firm. Although Rozik was not named a suspect, the case received widespread media coverage.