At the Night Market in Dubai's Al Rigga area EXPAT MEDIA

Influencers Blamed For Seat Shortage at Night Market

Some Night Market visitors in Dubai have taken to social media to complain about what they said were influencers taking up limited seating space in the recently opened leisure spot in Al Rigga. Cameron James (full name withheld) called out vloggers, tiktokers and influencers hogging available dining space at the Night Market and adding to the seating shortage. “Many are doing live videos while eating two sticks of isaw,” Cameron said in a Facebook post with an exasperated emoji. Isaw is a popular Filipino grilled street food. Many people echoed the same sentiment, saying that influencers should be mindful and give way to diners instead of turning the place into their hangout. “Those who really come there to eat can’t find seats for themselves,” Reign Camz said in Filipino. Maia Ihab Hammoud said she and her family visited the Night Market to eat, but that “there was no more space because others were doing live videos and promoting their single food order”. Hammoud said she and her family ended up eating elsewhere. Another disappointed visitor was John Calderero, who said he went there with his family all the way from Jumeirah Village Circle, only to find that there was no available seating space. Mae Francis Calapre, who lives in the area, said she has no plans of visiting the market because it is always “super crowded” and many are waiting for seating space. “You are going to end up hungry,” she said in Filipino. Adah Macapagal worried that the slow turnaround of real diners was going to impact the vendors who will not be able to maximise their earnings for the day. The post also drew reactions from Dubai-based influencers Bengs Hyu and Pinoy Siklaber Jeproks, who neither blamed nor defended fellow influencers, but went on to say they ordered a lot of food during their visit. Pinoy Siklaber Jeproks agreed it is not right for customers to stay there for a long time just to eat a handful. “Let’s give others a chance,” he said, while telling people to “mind your own business”. PIA/Expat Media ALSO READ: African woman goes viral in Dubai for speaking Filipino
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