UAE social media influencers face arrest after performing ‘Kiki challenge’

Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has ordered the arrest of three social media influencers for posting clips of them performing the ‘Kiki challenge’.

The department tweeted late Monday that the three face charges of “endangering the lives of others, disrupting public morals and violating the traffic laws of Abu Dhabi”.

بتهم تعريض حياة الآخرين للخطر والإخلال بالآداب العامة ومخالفة قانون السير والمرور النيابة العامة في أبوظبي تأمر بضبط وإحضار ثلاثة من مشاهير التواصل الاجتماعي على خلفية قيامهم ب" تحدي رقصة كيكي" pic.twitter.com/oCzlvFrGbg

— دائرة القضاء-أبوظبي (@ADJD_Official) July 23, 2018

The three “social media celebrities” were not named.

The ‘Kiki challenge’ involves drivers filming themselves as they exit their vehicle in motion and dance alongside to Canadian rapper Drake’s song ‘In my feelings’.

Comedian Lil Shuzi started the trend after launching a dance challenge involving the song.

Dubai’s deputy chairman of police and public security lieutenant general Dahi Khalfan Tamim, who is also an active social media user with 2.66 million followers on Twitter, criticised the challenge online.

رقصة كيكي تستوجب تدريب في ميدان الروية لمدة ٣ اشهر مع التمارين الشاقة.

— ضاحي خلفان تميم (@Dhahi_Khalfan) July 23, 2018

Dubai Police said those that perform the challenge could face a Dhs2,000 fine and 23 black points on their licence for offences including driving in a dangerous manner, blocking traffic and using a mobile phone while driving.

Police forces in other countries including Spain have issued similar warnings against the trend.

Already several clips have emerged of the challenge going wrong, with motorists filmed immediately falling to the road and walking into obstacles or people while they attempt to dance alongside their vehicle.