As the summer holidays persist, numerous community management entities across the UAE are advising both holidaymakers and expatriates returning to their home countries to adopt necessary safety measures prior to embarking on their extended vacations. For example, Emaar has been disseminating a circular that outlines several crucial tips, encouraging residents to enact these as part of their 'home security measures before travel'. Furthermore, they have placed informational boards at the entrances to the community, clearly detailing the dos and don'ts.

Arijit Nandi, a resident of Springs, commented, "Ideally, having someone stay behind is optimal, but that's not always feasible. I also believe that if the house is vacant, leaving one light on and ensuring all locks are secure is essential. Specifically, the backyard doors should be locked, and residents must check for any water leaks." Nandi also emphasized the wisdom of leaving an extra set of keys with someone in the Emirate, in case of emergencies while abroad.

Recounting an incident from a few years ago, Nandi detailed how he found two of his cars in the garage severely damaged upon his return from a lengthy vacation. "We have open car ports, and upon our return, we discovered that someone had accidentally hit our cars while reversing. However, the security personnel couldn't reach us because they didn't have our contact details. Hence, I now inform our neighbors when we're away, so they can keep an eye out for any emergencies."

Previously, the UAE Public Prosecution cautioned travelers against sharing travel details and photos on social media, citing a case where a resident was robbed after posting his travel plans online. More recently, in March 2024, an Irish family experienced a burglary at their villa in Al Furjan while they were away.

Nandi added, "Regardless of whether the pictures are 'gram-worthy' or not, we prefer sharing them with family and friends via WhatsApp, especially when traveling. I don't feel the need to make everything look like a Pinterest mood board." While the urge to share holiday experiences with loved ones is strong, a simple oversight in sharing photos can expose homeowners to risks.

Filipino expat Felizze Faye Navarro explained, "I ensure my privacy settings are configured to limit who can see my posts. People should consider making their profile private. I avoid mentioning exact travel dates or specific locations that could indicate my absence. We also implement security measures at home, such as asking a trusted relative or neighbor to monitor our property and using smart home security systems like cameras."

Leen Haffar, a Syrian expat residing in Business Bay, stated, "Although I live in an apartment with security cameras, I always post pictures on Instagram only after returning from a trip. Dubai is a very safe city, but stray incidents can happen. It's better to be safe than sorry." Regular posting from a different location can create a pattern that indicates one's absence, which could be exploited by those with malicious intent.

Meanwhile, residents expressed varied opinions on this matter. Shylou Canuel Lim, a resident of Al Ghadeer, said, "I do post photos of me and my family while we're away on vacation but provide minimal information such as location and duration and don't mention when I'll be coming back home for multiple reasons." Lim ensures that their home security cameras are operational and that all doors and windows are locked.

Neenu Kamarudin, a resident of JLT, commented, "I don't refrain from posting at all because I'm quite active on social media. Wherever I travel, I keep posting; my pictures go up in real time. The question of security didn't really cross my mind because in the UAE, you feel safe, and I live high up on the 14th floor." Kamarudin also stressed the importance of posting these stories for her audience, as she writes about food experiences, family, travel, and aims to motivate single moms.