Luisa Zissman has once again shown her support for the UAE, hitting back at claims that she and other Dubai-based influencers are being paid to post content.
The Apprentice star, 38, relocated to the UAE from the UK in December with her Irish millionaire husband Andrew Collins and two of her three children, Indigo Esme, nine, and Clementine.
She has been one of the most vocal influencers to throw their support behind the UAE government, even declaring it to be the ‘safest country in the world’ last week despite days of missile strikes and suicide drone attacks.
Luisa has since returned to the UK, citing a pre-planned work trip, but has continued in her campaign of support for her new home city.
On Thursday she reposted a video from Dubai-based entrepeneur and influencer allaia.wealth which read: ‘POV: The internet thinks Dubai is paying you to post content.’
‘Reality: You just genuinely love living here and appreciate how they keep everyone safe.’
Luisa Zissman has once again shown her support for the UAE, hitting back at reports that she and other Dubai-based influencers are being paid to post content
On Thursday she reposted a video from Dubai-based entrepeneur and influencer allaia.wealth which read: ‘POV: The internet thinks Dubai is paying you to post content’
The Daily Mail has previously revealed how social media personalities are allegedly terrified to speak openly for fear of deportation, arrest or losing their homes.
In the UAE, criticising the government, spreading rumours or damaging the country’s reputation can carry fines of up to £200,000 or prison sentences of up to five years – followed by deportation.
Many who have chosen to flee Dubai are said to be fearful that saying anything negative could prevent them from ever returning.
There are estimated to be more than 50,000 influencers in Dubai, lured there by not just the weather and its tax-free status, but also by a coordinated government campaign under the name Creators HQ, which offers generous help and advice with setting up their businesses.
Luisa has so far spent her trip back to the UK complaining about London crime and the weather, but on Wednesday she knocked back margaritas with Carrie Johnson.
The Apprentice star declared ‘being in the UK isn’t so bad’ as she caught up with best friend Anna Williamson, Boris Johnson‘s wife Carrie, 37, and Lucie Cave.
Alongside a beaming snap of the four of them, she wrote: ‘Being in the UK isn’t so bad when I’m with my best girls drinking margaritas…’
Luisa had always planned to come back to the UK this week to record episodes of her podcast LuAnna, but had decided to bring her daughters over fears they may not be able to get back to Dubai.
On Tuesday, she shared a clip of the classic bored Cillian Murphy meme as she made her feelings clear on the panic many have felt at being trapped in Dubai for days.
The post then read: ‘Reality: You just genuinely love living here and appreciate how they keep everyone safe’
Luisa has so far spent her trip back to the UK complaining about London crime and the weather, but on Wednesday she knocked back margaritas with Carrie Johnson
The text read: ‘Everyone in (UAE flags) seeing tourists talk in interviews like they just came back from the frontlines.’
Earlier in the day, Luisa declared she was in ‘my refugee era, displaced from my home,’ and admitted she was scared about returning to London crime in a clip as she walked through Chinatown.
‘Back in Blighty,’ she told fans. ‘I’m in Chinatown, I’m heading into the Global studios this morning.
‘Obviously I am no longer in Dubai, I was due back for work anyway so I came back with the kids, they’re on school holidays now and I just wanted to bring them back with me.’
She paused as she looked around and said: ‘I’m really paranoid someone is going to steal my phone.’
‘I’m now in my refugee era, displaced from my home,’ she added before heaping more praise on the UAE and her ‘very, very easy’ journey home.
‘It was actually fine leaving, it was very, very easy, we went through Oman, took us about 15 minutes to get through the border then flew out from Muscat to Heathrow.’
‘Back with Team Luanna for the next two days and I’m very excited to see my crew, and I’m very f**king cold and it’s very grey.’
