A social media video showing flames erupting on a Dubai street led to the arrest of a young man who set the roadway on fire as part of a birthday celebration, authorities confirmed on Friday, December 12.
In a Khaleej Times report, Dubai Police said the act involved pouring a highly flammable substance on a public road and igniting it, creating a dangerous situation for motorists and pedestrians. Investigators determined that the stunt was staged to attract online attention and increase the individual’s social media following.
Brigadier Juma bin Suwaidan, Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, said the incident amounted to a serious breach of traffic regulations and placed both people and property at risk. He stressed that lighting fires on public streets disrupts traffic flow, causes confusion among road users, and can damage infrastructure and the surrounding environment.
“Using public roads for dangerous stunts or filming videos to post on social media is completely unacceptable and poses a serious risk to road users,” bin Suwaidan said.
Authorities explained that once the video began circulating online, police teams tracked and reviewed the footage, allowing them to identify the suspect and the vehicle involved. Legal action followed, including the impoundment of the vehicle and the issuance of fines related to the violations and resulting damage.
Dubai Police noted that similar offences can carry penalties of up to Dh2,000, along with 23 black points and vehicle impoundment for as long as 60 days.
The police also appealed to parents to closely supervise their children and discuss the dangers of copying hazardous online trends, emphasizing that seeking online popularity does not excuse behavior that puts lives at risk or breaks the law.
