Since the war in the Middle East, characterized by an escalation between Iran, Israel, and the United States, many influencers based in Dubai are sharply criticized on social networks after requests for express repatriation following bombings on the city, often described as the queen of tax evasion.
For several years now, many influencers, notably from reality TV, have settled in Dubai. If the sun, security and the quest for tranquility (compared to a notoriety that is difficult to control on a daily basis in France) are not to be questioned, the taxation of the emirate remains a significant variable. No income tax, very low corporate tax rate, VAT much lower than in France… A true tax haven, Dubai has thus become the headquarters of many content creators.
Maeva Ghennam raises controversy
Weekend on a yacht, gourmet restaurants, prestigious private schools, huge villa with swimming pool, house staff… For influencers, life in Dubai seems as luxurious and tranquil as possible. And few of them hide from this privileged lifestyle, even criticizing all the disadvantages of living in France, their country of origin. But since Iran targeted Gulf states in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks, the discourse has changed significantly.
Some influencers have sparked a big controversy with clumsy sentences. Notably Maeva Ghennam, known for her participations in the reality show Les Marseillais. Accustomed to Snapchat stories and Instagram and TikTok videos where she exhibits her daily life and makes numerous product placements with her French-speaking audience, she filmed the missiles visible in the sky of Dubai from her terrace at the beginning of the war. Oh my God, there is a missile over my house,” she explained, panicked and frightened, in story.
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Shortly after, we saw her, passport in the bra, calling the French State: “France, protect us… We are French.” Her request to be repatriated made internet users even more grate as she has a ban on leaving the Emirates (“travel ban”) due to a local court case. A few days ago, the influencer indicated again in a video ‘not being able to sleep’, followed by another story where she communicated about a product with a promo code.
Content that did not fail to make the public react. Many comments accuse Maeva Ghennam of being hypocritical, she who has always praised life in Dubai, claiming that she would never return to live in France. On Instagram, the influencer Bastos notably reacted: “Well, now you manage and if you want to come back, you pay.” On the set of Cyril Hanouna, he reinforced his speech by mentioning: “This affair made me laugh […] It says: ‘I pay taxes’. We know that she left an old company almost dead in France on which she pays a bit of taxes for the company, but the majority of her taxes, which should be paid, are income taxes. Her income, she gets them there […] it’s the big scam.
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Featured photo : Instagram
