Dubai’s reputation for luxury and extravagance often overshadows another major draw for tourists: safety. But how safe is it really?
A recent social media exchange reignited this debate, offering a glimpse into Dubai’s reality through the eyes of its visitors.
An X user, Adam Alfi, dared to conduct the “Dubai test.” He and his friends left their belongings – sunglasses, wallets, Airpods, and even ID cards – unattended on a cafe terrace for a whole hour, venturing off to explore the Dubai Marina. Upon returning, they found everything untouched, sparking a discussion on the city’s remarkable security.
“I did the Dubai test last month, left our stuff out in public outside at a cafe, went to the marina (10 min away) with a few friends to check stuff out for about an hour…came back, and everything was exactly how we left it,” he wrote.
I did the Dubai test last month, left our stuff out in public outside at a cafe, went to the marina (10 min away) with a few friends to check stuff out for about an hour…came back, and everything was exactly how we left it. pic.twitter.com/SP1icywqiZ
— Adam Alfi (@AdamAlfi) December 23, 2023
But is this just anecdotal evidence, or is there data to back it up? As they say, numbers don’t lie.
Crime Index: According to Numbeo, Dubai boasts a crime index of 21.87, compared to 47.44 for the United States as a whole. This means that Dubai is statistically more than twice as safe than the average American city.
Violent Crime: The story is even more compelling when we focus on violent crime. Dubai’s homicide rate is a staggering 0.92 per million residents, compared to 5.35 in the US. This translates to a 98% lower chance of being a victim of violent crime in Dubai.
Looking at specific cities, the comparison becomes even starker. Los Angeles, for example, has a crime index of 43.18, nearly double that of Dubai. And London, a popular tourist destination in the UK, comes in at 38.71, still significantly higher than Dubai’s safety haven.
No wonder a London resident, @ZubyMusic said, “I’ve been back in the UK for just 10 days and already witnessed several instances of shoplifting. I even told the security guard in one store and he just looked at me blankly… Defeated.
“I am moving to Dubai.”
Reacting to Adam Alfi’s experiment, he said, “High trust society. You can’t do this in any large Western city anymore. People can call Dubai ‘soulless’ or ‘authoritarian’ or whatever. But it’s a high functioning, prosperous, safe city.”