Tuesday, Mar 21, 2017

Dubai

Any plans to scale that towering Dubai skyscraper just for the internet fame? You may want to think again.

Three recent, separate incidents saw a Russian model, a Russian couple and a British video blogger scale some of the city’s loftiest towers for selfies and video clips.

The death-defying footage from each stunt went viral online, prompting police action on two of the occasions.

And now, barely a month after the most recent tower-climbing incident, Dubai’s authorities seem to have enough.

On Tuesday, Dubai Municipality issued what it described as a “strict warning against dangerous selfie-adventurists using high-rise buildings.”

All owners and those in charge of public facilities and buildings must ensure public safety, said Hussain Lootah, Dubai Municipality’s Director General in an official circular.

“The emirate has, in the recent past, witnessed a person illegally sneaking into one of the towers in Dubai,” said Khalid Mohammed Sharif, another municipality official, .

Violators had been “drooping outside the protection fence at the top of the tower, without any restrictions or means to ensure safety and protection and then carrying out some dangerous shows,” he added.

Issued on the basis of the Local Order No. 11 of 2003, the new circular underlines the need for building owners to ensure the protection of society from risks.

The circular requires owners and those in charge of public places and buildings to provide security and around-the-clock surveillance around the clock to stop daredevils.

CCTV systems, sensors and safety systems may be needed to stop unauthorized access, the circular highlighted.

-Dangerous deeds-

The senior municipality official warned again “dangerous acts” done without “informing the concerned bodies” who must be fully insured and prepared for similar stunts to go ahead.

“We want to reduce the risks that may result from… dangerous practices due to the hobbies and adventures practiced by some people endangering their lives,” Sharif added.

In February, Moscow-based model Viktoria Odintcova ended up in a Dubai police station after footage online showed her dangling from a Dubai tower.

She was let off after signing a pledge not to put her life at risk again. She also faces a lawsuit from the developers of the tower she scaled.

Then in early March, Southampton-based daredevil James Kingston was plucked from his Dubai hotel room by police, and signed a similar pledge. In 2014, he had climbed a different tower and also faced detention.

Later on in March, Dmitry Chernysh posted pictures and footage online showing him and his girlfriend scaling different towers in Dubai. The Moscow-based couple did not appear to face any action by authorities.

Staff Report

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