UAE Warns Citizens To Avoid Arab Area Of London

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued advice to its citizens travelling in London that includes avoiding the most heavily Arab populated area of the City. 

The map of “danger areas” in London includes Edgware Road, a road famed for its Middle Eastern Cuisine which has various nicknames amongst locals such as ‘Little Cairo’ and ‘Little Beirut’.

They also encourage their nationals to avoid the gay village in Soho, and the shopping area Oxford Circus, according to the Evening Standard. Both areas are subject to a large police presence, and crime rates in the area are low. This has led Westminster City Council – which administers all these areas – to question the basis for the claims.

Community safety spokesperson Nickie Aiken said: “We do not recognise the picture that the UAE Foreign Ministry is painting. Westminster is a safe city, and we welcome millions of tourists every year to see world-renowned landmarks and attractions, including Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street.

“Because of our proactive approach to tackling such issues, London is one of the safest cities in the world, as well as one of the most visited.”

Bizarrely, the UAE is encouraging visitors to go to the run-down district of Shepherd’s Bush, so synonymous with low quality goods that it was mentioned on the theme tune to the TV show ‘Only Fools and Horses’ which featured knock-off traders Derek ‘Del Boy’ and Rodney Trotter.

The map was the UAE’s Foreign Ministry’s attempt to deal with two recent attacks on tourists from the country. In one case a group of tourists lost £2000 in a robbery. 

A spokesperson for the New West End Company which promotes the area around Oxford Street and Regent Street said: “While we recognise recent concerns over incidents, these cases are isolated and rare. Visitors should feel safe and be assured that they are safe and the latest crime statistics prove this.”

Whilst London is broadly safe, criminals are increasingly targeting wealthy Arabs because they carry huge amounts of cash around. Many wealthy Arabs avoid the Middle East during the summer as it is very hot, and instead make their way to either Paris or London.

Earlier this week Breitbart London reported a Saudi Prince’s motorcade was hijacked and £200,000 in cash was stolen. The Prince is believed to have left France and instead come to London.