By Souad El Skaf

DUBAI -- Police here have arrested a European national for posting a video on social media at a beach in Dubai, ignoring the instructions of a police patrol, while mocking precautionary measures issued by health and official authorities amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The General Command of the Dubai Police warned that residents must comply with the directives issued by security entities.

In a statement posted on Dubai Media Office Twitter page, the General Command of the Dubai Police said if safeguards for public health are violated, residents will be held accountable and face legal measures.

Local news outlets reported that the European man, believed to be a personal trainer, posted a video on Instagram of himself and a friend at a beach in Dubai.

They were there a day after authorities said all public beaches, parks, gyms and cinemas would be closed to limit the spread of the virus.

Police said the man “ignored the instructions of a police patrol while mocking precautionary measures issued by health and official authorities.”

In the video, the man praises people for going to the beach despite the ban and global pandemic.

The UAE has introduced increasingly strict measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The country ordered on Monday the closure of shopping centers, all commercial centers, and open markets, except for the fish, vegetables and meat markets in the country for two weeks in order to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus. -- Al Arabiya English