Remember that viral video of a sheikh buying luxury cars? He is now detained in Dubai

The term 'Habibi' might remind you of someone donning white attire, a headgear, and exuding wealth. But hold on, that's offensive!

It all began on June 7 with a humorous video where a man dressed as an Emirati confidently strolled into a car showroom, accompanied by assistants carrying bundles of cash, on a mission to buy a car.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is abuzz with this peculiar case of mistaken identity, comical encounters, an unexpected clash with Emirati propaganda, and a spoof video gone awry!

Who knew that satire could yield such consequences?

What went down

Imagine an ordinary individual, not hailing from the glamorous realm of Emiratis, choosing to dress in traditional Emirati attire and indulge in a wild fantasy of purchasing expensive cars with stacks of cash.

What could possibly go wrong, one might think?

Well, in this case, the prankster's video landed him in detention for disseminating false propaganda!

According to the state-run WAM news agency, the UAE resident faced allegations of sharing "propaganda aimed at manipulating public sentiment and undermining public welfare."

Who would have anticipated that impersonating a high-rolling Emirati while dressed as a local could lead to trouble?

The video "insults the Emirati society"

Evidently, the lighthearted portrayal did not sit well, prompting the Federal Prosecution for Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes to issue an order for his detention. He was charged with the offense of publishing content that "disrespects Emirati society."

Tell me you're an Emirati without explicitly telling me you're an Emirati.

The video showcases him speaking in English while imitating a Gulf-Arab accent.

Humorously, he demands the most expensive car in the showroom, only to dismiss it, stating that its price of 2.2 million dirhams (approximately 4 crore 95 lakhs) is far from expensive, proclaiming, "My driver will drive this." Classic!

He playfully tosses bundles of cash to the workers, saying, "You work here? Go have coffee!"

His catchphrase becomes "I need expensive, brother," and he proceeds to purchase four luxurious cars, including a Rolls-Royce and Mercedes.

A matter too controversial to handle

According to the WAM news agency, the video spreads an inaccurate and disrespectful portrayal of Emirati citizens, mocking them and disregarding the importance of wealth.

The owner of the car showroom was also summoned for an inquiry by the Public Prosecution office.

They emphasized the significance of considering UAE societal norms and deeply ingrained values when creating online content to prevent legal repercussions.

As an oil-rich Gulf monarchy, the UAE has stringent regulations against the spread of rumors and false information, closely monitoring online activities.

Humor can come with a hefty price tag, even in the land of oil-rich sheikhs!