Dubai's Unexpected Pet Trend: Lions in the City

A recent video shared on social media has highlighted an unexpected aspect of life in Dubai: the surprising number of people who keep lions as pets. The video, created by a university student named Karen K, details her experience interviewing students and residents about their exotic animal companions. "I was doing a project for my journalism class," Karen explained in her video, "and I was shocked to find out how many people here own lions." Four of the eight people she interviewed confirmed owning lions. The video also reveals the substantial financial commitment involved in caring for such animals, with one interviewee reporting monthly costs exceeding $54,000 for food alone. The video has sparked a discussion about the implications of such practices and the regulations surrounding exotic pet ownership in the United Arab Emirates.