Airport officer was not ‘busy on phone’ during Dubai ruler’s visit – officials

Officials in Dubai have warned the public against spreading “false rumours” about public officers on social media.

The warning comes after social media reports claimed an airport worker was ‘busy on his phone’ during a surprise inspection by Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Dubai’s ruler His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Sunday.

However, Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) dismissed the report as inaccurate on Tuesday.

Taking to Twitter, GDRFA said in a series of tweets that the officer was using his “tools such as the passport entry stamp” and was “not messing with his phone.”

لقطات تظهر مأمور الجوازات خلال إنجازه حركة دخول المسافرة بمتابعة صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم #إقامة_دبي pic.twitter.com/IrHAfF3wcc

— إقامة دبي (@GDRFADUBAI) August 30, 2016

“The GDRFA appeals to social media users to verify the source of the information and not to contribute to spreading rumours,” it said.

The Dubai Media Office also took to Twitter to urge residents to avoid spreading rumours and fabricating stories via social media.

الموظف الظاهر في الصورة خلال جولة محمد بن راشد التفقدية كان يؤدي عمله.ندعو الجميع تجنب نشرالاشاعات والأخبار المفبركة pic.twitter.com/izgCbBiVQh

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 30, 2016

Sheikh Mohammed made surprise visits to government offices on Sunday early morning to assess their service standards.

He conducted a spot check on government offices including those of Dubai Municipality, Dubai Land Department, Department of Economic Development and Dubai International Airport. During the tour, Sheikh Mohammed also reviewed facilities and services provided to passengers travelling via the airport.

A video of him walking into an empty office also went viral on social media.

محمد بن راشد يقوم بجولة ميدانية تفقدية على الدوائرالحكومية بدبي صباح اليوم #دبي pic.twitter.com/RR9pPqaE7g

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 28, 2016

On Monday – a day later, Sheikh Mohammed also ordered a shake-up of the Dubai Municipality’s executive management, including the retirement of nine senior officials.

Read more: Dubai’s ruler retires nine senior officials, orders management shake-up