- EXCLUSIVE: A-listers are ditching Dubai in their droves for the Maldives
- The desert city has become blighted by crime and eyesore buildings
The modern desert metropolis of Dubai has built its flashy reputation as being the go-to destination for celebrities and holidaymakers but crime and eyesore high rises could be signalling the end of its dominance.
The Middle Eastern hub, home to the Burj Khalifa, has long been a favorite of sports stars and Hollywood A-listers like Wayne Rooney and Will Smith who have promoted the city state on their social media pages – driving more tourists in.
However, an insider who has worked with celebrities in Dubai said A-listers were ditching the desert paradise in favour of destinations like the Maldives as the desert city has become ‘the new Magaluf’.
He told MailOnline: ‘If you’re an A-lister, Dubai is becoming the place to avoid.
‘Only low-rent reality stars or retired footballers go there now and that’s probably because they’ve got a freebie deal.
‘It’s become the new Magaluf – it’s like a Spanish package holiday destination.’
He also added that Dubai’s reputation as a safe haven for drugs kingpins and gangsters, thanks to favourable extradition laws, has played a big role.
It has long been rumoured that Christy Kinahan, the leader of the transnational crime organisation, and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr are hiding in the city state, protected ‘by Dubai elites.’
‘It’s turned into a mafia paradise with the Kinahans over there and their associates, the source explained.
‘They’re part of the new rich, showing off their wealth, a lot of it ill gotten.
‘You also see a fights in hotels and lots of prostitutes coming and going.’
The hotel boss added that the city had become ‘over-developed’ with endless hotel blocks and offices losing its desert oasis allure for a lot of A-listers.
He added: ‘It’s been heading this way for the last four or five years. The Maldives and the Caribbean are now much more popular for celebrities.’
Dubai’s relative youth on the international stage and absence of historical prestige has meant it has always relied on word of mouth for its tourism.
The city has long had a champion in Will Smith who has travelled to the city to perform and film TV shows, memorably climbing the Burj in 2021.
He has spoke on record about his admiration for the destination, saying: ‘Dubai fits my personality. It just speaks to how I see the world, how I see life.
‘If you’re gonna build a building, are you really not gonna try to build the Burj Khalifa?’
But the city’s stringent laws and willingness to punish and even imprison foreign tourists have deterred some celebrities in the wake of Kaz Crossley’s detention.
In 2020, the reality star was filmed without her knowledge, appearing to snort lines of white powder in Dubai by her ‘controlling and manipulative’ ex-boyfriend.
After flying into Abu Dhabi for a work trip following the incident, Kaz was put in jail for a week due to the video.
She was then moved to a Dubai prison, where she was reportedly refused a phone call to her family, but was permitted to send a single email.
In a bid to present a more accepting face to tourists, Dubai has liberalised its drugs laws with first-time offenders given a minimum of three months in prison and a fine of between £4,559 and £22,799.
Previously, offenders would have faced a minimum of four years in prison for any drug use.
With Dubai now relegated to also ran, many more Hollywood A-listers are flocking to the Maldives attracted by the pristine white beaches and luxury resorts including the Oblu Select Lobigili hotel.
The hotel stretches out to sea and even includes an underwater restaurant – perfect for Instagrams.
Among the most popular of the Maldives’ inhabited islands is Maafushi, which offers an abundance of beach bars, restaurants, water sports and snorkelling tours.
Other hotspots on the archipelago include the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island where the Kardashians are known to frequent.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
