Fact Check: Man in viral video is not Dubai Prince celebrating India’s Independence Day
The video does not show the Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. It shows Idqbal Hatboor, an Indian content creator based in Dubai.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 21 Aug 2023 10:03 AM GMT
Screengrab from the Facebook post.
Hyderabad: A video showing people in Arabian attire celebrating India’s Independence Day is viral on social media. Users claim that the video shows the Dubai Prince, along with Dubai police, celebrating India’s Independence Day on August 15.
A Facebook user shared the video with the caption, “Dubai Prince and Dubai Police celebrating India’s Independence Day. Jai Hind Jai Bharat. (sic)”
(Image Credit: Facebook)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the video does not show the Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum. It shows Idqbal Hatboor, an Indian content creator based in Dubai.
The viral video carried the username ‘@Iqbaal_hatboor.’ Taking this as a cue, we looked for the user on Instagram and Facebook and found the same video posted by Hatboor on both platforms.
(Image Credit: Facebook)
He stated in the caption that he celebrated the 77th Indian Independence Day at the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. He also expressed gratitude to UAE and Dubai police for supporting the event.
In his Instagram bio, Hatboor identified himself as an ‘Entrepreneur, Businessman, Influencer, Traveller, and social worker based in Dubai, UAE.’
(Image Credit: Instagram)
We also came across a photo posted by Hatboor on Facebook in 2019. It showed him meeting the crown prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum during the latter’s royal wedding.
Malayalam News outlet Mathrubhumi also reported the Independence Day celebrations by Hatboor at Burj Khalifa.
Samayam Malayalam reported in 2020 that Iqbal Hatboor is a native of Kasargod, Kerala.
Hence, we conclude that the video does not show Dubai Prince celebrating India’s Independence Day. The claim is false.
