An influencer is leaving the UK to raise her two-year-old son in Dubai, citing fears of the nation’s crime rates.
Jodie Weston, 30, known for her appearances on Channel 5 shows such as Rich Holiday Poor Holiday and Rich Kids Go Skint, is now in the process of obtaining a work visa and searching for flats in the Gulf city-state.
The DJ’s primary concern is the safety of her child, Koa, particularly from knife crime, which she finds increasingly alarming in Britain. She revealed her apprehension around the violent trend, pointing out that “knife crime is not an issue out there which is something which worries me about having a boy”. She added: “There are low crime rates there in general.
“I am very worried. It’s all I see everywhere on TV and in the news and it just scares me for the future. Obviously my son is only two but it’s an issue even with primary school aged kids and it has got so out of hand in London.
“I was watching a documentary the other day and a lot of the time it’s over just trivial matters like someone taking a snack that another person wants or even mistaken identity. And I just think more needs to be done but I don’t know when that is going to happen or how.”
London has seen a slew of knife crime tragedies this year, including the fatal stabbing death of 15-year-old Keylan Bokassa on a London bus. The Ben Kinsella Trust also highlights an alarming 80 per cent increase in knife or sharp instrument offences recorded by police over the past decade across England, reports the Mirror.
Moving away from the topic of crime, Jodie shared with us four additional motivations driving her desire to relocate abroad.
Tired of the hefty rent prices and the dreary British climate, she complained: “I think this winter has been more cold and wet than ever. It just feels never ending. I can’t even take my son to the park most days as it keeps raining.”
In contrast, Dubai offers endless sunshine with peak temperatures in August soaring to 44C and not dipping below 30C, while January sees averages of 25C at its highest and 14C at its lowest.
When questioned further about the benefits for her child living in Dubai, Jodie highlighted the variety of activities available. They include swimming pools in almost every apartment complex, to pristine beaches, engaging soft play areas, outdoor playgrounds, kite flying, and even mini towns where children can navigate their own toy cars.
Jodie, who has been eyeing international schools with fees ranging from £3,000 to £15,000 a year, said: “There’s also theme parks with kids rides, water parks with slides, sensory centres that are much bigger than the ones we have here; everything just seems a bit grander out there.”
She expressed excitement about raising her child Koa in Dubai, a city she’s visited before, saying: “Obviously it’s great to be around different cultures and in a cosmopolitan city like Dubai I think you’d get a great range of life experience and opportunities that you maybe wouldn’t if you stayed in the UK.”
However, she acknowledged some downsides, such as being far from family, adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings, missing UK history, and navigating strict local laws on attire and behaviour.
The United Arab Emirates is known for its stringent laws. British teenager Marcus Fakana, 18, was sentenced to a year in prison for engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, who is considered a minor at that age. Additionally, same-sex relationships are illegal in the UAE, and the UK Government has warned that public displays of affection, including kissing, can lead to arrests.
Even books with magical or witchcraft themes, such as Harry Potter, may be scrutinised by customs officials.
Regarding the use of profanity, the UK Government has issued a warning: “It is illegal to swear and make rude gestures, including online, as they are considered obscene acts. You could be jailed or deported.”
It also highlighted that being drunk or under the influence of alcohol in public spaces is against the law. Additionally, the UK Government cautioned about social media conduct, stating: “It is illegal to post material, including videos and photographs, online that is critical of the government, companies or individuals, or which relates to incidents in the UAE.”