There is a malicious story being spread online internationally about the Dubai Royal Family by an advocacy group that is basically a PR machine against the UAE. 

 The unverified story hasn’t been covered by mainstream media and hasn’t been responded publicly to by the UAE Media Office. It has not been covered on UAE sites, including this one for various reasons. 

1. The media can fall victim to ‘Fake News’ as well as those reading it, by commenting and providing analysis. There’s no way to verify this story, or its claims at this time – and therefore, cannot be taken as credible information. 
2. The stories can come from advocacy groups, pressure groups, or lobbyists based out of the UK, they can have a business model to charge those who fall in trouble in the UAE a lot of money, and in return generate as much media attention as possible. 
3. In a year when the sharing of personal data is being exposed, knowing when our privacy is being invaded and not accepting it is extremely important, as GDRP (General Data Protection Regulation) comes into effect in Europe, we should question how we could be personally effected ….

1. Fake News – what is it and will it ever end?

There are two main types of Fake News. News that is written inaccurately, as media becomes fragmented and publishing can come from many sources, fake stories that are not verified can spread quickly. Secondly, fake news can be news that is intentionally created to mislead with a particular agenda in mind, either commercial or political.

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Both types can happen in the UAE. The National Media Council (NMC) has measures in place to ensure that we are not the victims of fake news in the UAE. However, should fake news appear in other countries when the UAE is the subject, there is little that can be done.

We have seen with the testimony in congress by Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg that platforms are doing more to ensure that they are responsible for the media that appears on their platforms. Snapchat and Twitter are doing the same. This is a positive sign that both types of fake news will be stamped out in future. 

2. Why do these advocacy groups exist?

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you are in trouble with the law, it’s best to seek advice from registered legal entities in the UAE who can provide professional service and who have practiced law in this country for many years.

By associating yourself with a group, you are immediately drawing similarities with all the cases they have generated negative publicity for before. Those who do don’t see any other option. Yes some of the cases are resolved, but not without a lot of hostility. If your case is reasonable, you will be treated fairly, without unnecessarily tarnishing your own name.

For those who live in the UAE, and respect the laws and customs, any who have had instances involving Dubai Courts, the Police or the Public Prosecutor, will comment favorably about the fair and professional procedures.

Based on experience, Lovin Dubai wholeheartedly recommends working with either local or internal legal firms based in the UAE, and not with an off-shore, unofficial one.

Understanding laws and customs also relates to the media. The UK has different ways of dealing with publicity and it’s been perceived in the past that brushes with the law can be turned into something positive for people’s careers and commercial activity. 

We are fortunate that such behavior hasn’t crept into our media industry in the UAE, and we welcome that together we ensure it doesn’t happen. 

3. Why privacy is a human right that we should protect

We are lucky in the UAE that the Royal Family are so open and engaging, Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince HH Sheikh Hamdan are constantly meeting with and engaging with the public. In the Year Of Zayed, we are reminded on the importance of tolerance of those who live amongst us. We also appreciate and respect the efforts made by the leadership to make everyone feel welcome, and the encouragement that all adopt similar behavior.

These acts of leadership, the public gestures, the sharing of family moments, the poetry and the public engagements to participate in activity with everyone else, are not pre-requisite of those running a government or royal family members.

We shouldn’t take it for granted, it’s incredibly inspiring and contributes to what makes the UAE such a progressive and great nation.

We have seen how overly intrusive media, or paparazzi, has negatively impacted royal families in other countries and we don’t want the same to happen here. It’s up to us to spot when it starts to happen, to call it out and to ensure that such cover doesn’t grow.

What can we actually do

We are not naïve to the fact that this story will provoke a response by advocacy groups, as it has in the past. 

The group will question Lovin Dubai’s editorial independence, however, in almost three years of publishing, and more than one hundred original stories per week online, we have never once seen our content governed or influenced. We are 100% independently owned and have zero external editorial influence. Given the name Lovin Dubai, we are pro the city and we love pretty much everything about it, so we may be biased on some topics, but it’s our bias.

If you get stuck in a situation with laws in the UAE – search for representatives who value and respect life in the UAE. If you read negative stories and press about the country, or its policy, question and investigate the claims. There are many excellent and reputable legal representatives in the UAE, and it is respected by authorities that those channels are followed