A Birkin left behind in Dubai, and what it reveals about everyday safety

Anecdotes are not statistics, but they can capture something real about day-to-day risk

A short social-media “experiment” has become the latest shorthand for why many people describe Dubai as unusually safe. In the viral clip, a woman leaves an expensive Hermès Birkin bag unattended in a busy public area in Dubai and walks away. When she returns later, the bag is still there, untouched. The video, reported by multiple outlets in mid-December 2025, triggered the predictable reaction online: “only in Dubai.”

Anecdotes are not statistics, but they can capture something real about day-to-day risk. Dubai’s reputation rests on a mix of low levels of street crime, strong deterrence, and visible security norms in public places such as malls, transport hubs and tourist areas. What matters is that petty theft is perceived as high-risk, and that perception shapes behaviour.

Safety rankings broadly reinforce the image. Numbeo’s 2025 Safety Index by City places Dubai near the very top of its global list, with a safety score in the mid-80s. At the country level, the United Arab Emirates ranks first on Numbeo’s mid-year 2025 Safety Index by Country. These indices are based on user-reported perceptions rather than official police data, but they are widely used as a benchmark for how safe residents and travellers feel on the ground.

Technology is another part of the story. Dubai Police has invested for years in surveillance and “smart policing” systems designed to deter crime and accelerate identification and response. One widely cited programme is Oyoon, described by researchers as an AI-enabled surveillance initiative using tools such as facial recognition and behavioural analysis to flag suspects and incidents in real time. The point is not only catching offenders, but making opportunistic crime less attractive in the first place.

Dubai’s safety reputation also shows up in travel-focused research. A May 2025 Forbes report discussing a study of solo female travel ranked Dubai as the top city, highlighting its high safety scores while also noting broader debates about rights and legal frameworks.

The viral bag video is best read as a small, imperfect demonstration of a larger ecosystem: high deterrence, fast enforcement, extensive monitoring, and social norms that make “grab and run” theft a poor bet. For visitors, the practical takeaway is simple: Dubai may be safer than many global cities, but common sense still applies, especially with valuables and crowded tourist areas.