Three men were arrested in Saudi Arabia after they tricked a Kuwaiti celebrity into thinking that she had been given a Dh2.9 million gift box of perfumes from "official sources", the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The episode caused a stir on social media after a video of Halima Boland, a Kuwaiti TV host, emerged in which she was seen receiving the box of Abdul Samad Al Quraishi perfumes, a famous perfume brand in the GCC. It was supposedly worth 3 million Saudi riyals.
In a video on her Snapchat account, which she uploaded but has since deleted, Ms Boland is heard speaking to a Saudi man off-camera who tells her “we don’t want to tell you the value of the gift, but it's 3 million riyals”.
The box is opened by two other men, exposing a golden placard. Written on it is: “Halima Abdul Jaleel Boland, the most beautiful women in the world are under her feet”.
In the box, there were 18 bottles from Abdul Samad Al Quraishi perfumery.
In a statement carried by the state news agency, the Saudi man, along with his Lebanese and Indian companions, tricked Ms Boland into believing it was sent to her by “official sources”.
There has been no official statement yet on what the motive of the three men was in presenting the gift. But authorities have arrested the three on charges of forgery and counterfeiting official documents.
The video has since caused a stir on social media, prompting Ms Boland to tweet on Wednesday night before turning her account private on Thursday.
"I will sue those who have abused me and tried to sully my reputation, through my legal representatives to, anyone who has spread rumours about me, in Kuwait and abroad. Those who weren't raised by their parents will be disciplined by the law," she said in the tweet below.
The perfumery has issued a statement denying they were involved in the gift presented to Ms Boland and stating that they hadn’t sent any gifts to her.
They later issued a statement on their Twitter account commending the Saudi police's efforts in capturing the three suspects.
They have since been arrested in Riyadh and sent to the prosecutor’s office for trial.
However, the authority’s actions have not stopped comments on social media that criticised Boland. Some of her critics expressed upset at the note that came with the gift on the placard, saying that it insulted all other women both in Saudi Arabia and abroad.
The drama is the latest to erupt in the Middle East's social media world. In July, Kuwaiti beauty blogger Sondos Al Qattan caused global uproar by posting a video of her views on Filipino workers in Kuwait.
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Keep it fun and engaging
Stuart Ritchie, director of wealth advice at AES International, says children cannot learn something overnight, so it helps to have a fun routine that keeps them engaged and interested.
“I explain to my daughter that the money I draw from an ATM or the money on my bank card doesn’t just magically appear – it’s money I have earned from my job. I show her how this works by giving her little chores around the house so she can earn pocket money,” says Mr Ritchie.
His daughter is allowed to spend half of her pocket money, while the other half goes into a bank account. When this money hits a certain milestone, Mr Ritchie rewards his daughter with a small lump sum.
He also recommends books that teach the importance of money management for children, such as The Squirrel Manifesto by Ric Edelman and Jean Edelman.
