Dubai cracks down on 'massage girls'

Dubai has launched a drive to curb what it described as the spreading phenomenon of “massage girls” who it said are promoting vice in the emirate, a senior police officer was reported on Thursday as saying.

The emirate’s police are coordinating with the Dubai Department of Economy to stem such a phenomenon following a surge in these activities, involving girls who distribute their business cards to the public, said Colonel Jamal Al Jallaf, deputy director of the general detective department in Dubai.

“We are pursuing a campaign against these massage girls to eliminate this bad phenomenon, which has become widespread recently,” he told the Abu Dhabi-based Arabic language daily Alittihad.

“We are taking stringent measures against these girls who distribute cards carrying their phone numbers and pictures showing half-naked women…the real purpose of these cards is to encourage illegal activities.”

Jallaf said the campaign focuses on residential areas, which are targeted by these girls, adding that police would also raid any suspected apartment.

“Many of these girls who have been seized were involved in prostitution as their announced massage activity is only a cover for vice…we call upon all persons who know these women to report them to the police.”

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