His remarks come amid regional tensions involving missile and drone interceptions, though authorities have confirmed that security systems remain fully operational.
Amid ongoing regional missile and drone threats, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said that Dubai remains statistically safer than many European cities.
“In a post on X on Sunday, March 1, Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, said he had temporarily relocated to Europe a week earlier. ‘Unfortunately, I had to leave Dubai for Europe — so I’m not only missing the free fireworks from Iran, but also exposing myself to greater risk. Given Europe’s crime rates, Dubai is statistically safer even with missiles flying. Can’t wait to be back,’ he wrote.”The post has been viewed more than 3.4 million times. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, responded, writing: “No country is perfect, but Dubai and UAE broadly are objectively safer and better run than many areas of Europe.”
Data from Numbeo’s 2026 Crime Index shows Dubai with a crime score of around 15–16 and a safety index above 84, ranking it among the world’s major low-crime cities. Other UAE cities, including Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, also score highly on safety metrics.
Several European urban centres report higher crime index scores, with residents in parts of France and the UK citing concerns over theft and violent crime. Many users on X welcomed Durov’s remarks, citing crime statistics and safety rankings to support his claim.
Durov has based Telegram’s operations in Dubai since 2017. His comments come amid regional missile and drone developments, although authorities have confirmed that security systems remain fully operational.
Security analysts note that while geopolitical risks affect the broader region, the UAE continues to maintain low street crime rates and strict law enforcement standards
