Snapshots of the comment and grocery haul of Dubai-based Filipina expat Arbi.

What was supposed to be a quick grocery run at a mall in Dubai turned into a comedy of errors for Arbi, a Filipina expat who shared her hilarious story of being mistaken for an illegal food vendor—just because she was carrying a giant shopping bag. The viral post, which Arbi shared on Facebook on Tuesday (August 5), has now been shared more than 6,000 times and has racked up hundreds of comments. “Nangyari na ‘yung kinakatakutan ko… Umupo ako saglit sa may mall kasi nga ang bigat ng dala ko, tapos lumapit si kabayan sa ’kin sabay tanong, ‘Te, may suman?’ Kaya ayoko magbitbit niyan eh (What I feared most finally happened… I sat down for a moment at the mall because my bag was heavy, then a fellow kabayan approached me and asked, ‘Sis, do you have suman?’ This is why I hate carrying that bag!),” Arbi wrote, posting a photo of her enormous Carrefour shopping bag. Arbi said she had just stocked up on packs of Break chocolate bars on sale for Dh4.99 each at Carrefour in Deira City Centre. The haul was likely meant for her balikbayan box—a care package most Filipino expats in the UAE send home to their families, filled with goodies like chocolates and canned goods. But with her large shopping bag in tow, Arbi’s well-meaning chocolate binge made her look like a walking sari-sari store, triggering a flood of hilarious responses from netizens who could relate. Facebook user Aling Kunyang shared how she was also mistaken for a street food vendor while waiting for her sister at a mall. “Someone came up to me and asked if I had balut and chicharon!” she said in Filipino. Another netizen, Emer Myra, said she once saw a man in Satwa carrying a bayong (woven bag), and someone approached him saying, “Kabayan, buy some suman, puto, kutchinta!” Even in elevators, the assumption persists. “Someone asked me what I was selling when I carried similar bags,” said Jayson Caranto. “I told her: ‘Sharon po, for our party. Want some lumpia, Ate?’ Epic!” But not everyone found the post funny. Facebook user Rica Mambo Matados called out the mindset behind Arbi’s post. “Bakit ka matatakot? Scary na ba ngayon ang may extra income? (Why would you be scared? Is it scary now to have a side hustle?)” she commented. “They’re just trying to earn a living. At least they’re not stealing or scamming people. That mindset is just sad,” she added in Filipino.

Illegal food vending still a serious offense in UAE

While the comments section gave people something to laugh about, authorities continue to warn residents about the dangers of buying from unlicensed food vendors. Lieutenant Colonel Talib Al Amiri of Dubai Police said in a previous media interview that selling food without a license is not just illegal—it can be dangerous. Poor handling and storage of unregulated food can cause contamination and health risks. Under UAE law, violators could face fines between Dh100,000 to Dh2 million, up to 2 years in jail, and deportation for expatriates. Authorities are urging the public to report illegal street vending by calling 901 or via the Dubai Police app. CAM/ICA/Expat Media
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