Shops closed in apparent national day hoax

Hundreds of panicked residents shut down their shops on Saturday and hung UAE flags outside their doors in the Naif area, after what appeared to be a National Day hoax.

Last updated: December 03, 2005 | 00:00

Diaa Hadid, Staff Reporter

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Dubai: Hundreds of panicked residents shut down their shops on Saturday and hung UAE flags outside their doors in the Naif area, after what appeared to be a National Day hoax.

Residents said men dressed in UAE national dress claiming to be inspectors from Dubai Municipality threatened shop keepers with Dh5,000 fines for operating on what they insisted was a public holiday.

Police said the men appeared to be pranksters. The private sector officially celebrated National Day on Friday, 2 December.