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Backlash and congratulations after Dubai YouTubers stage ‘biggest ever’ gender reveal on Burj Khalifa, world’s tallest building

  • Dubai couple Anas Marwah and Asala Maleh use Dubai tower to tell the world the gender of their second child
  • Video on family’s YouTube account has been viewed more than 20 million times

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Anas Marwah and Asala Maleh react to the ‘biggest ever’ gender reveal. Photo: YouTube
Agence France-Presse

Social media stars in Dubai are facing an online backlash after staging what they billed as the “biggest baby gender reveal ever” on the world’s tallest building in Dubai.

While some were quick to congratulate Anas Marwah and Asala Maleh on their second child as the needlelike Burj Khalifa lit up in blue for a boy, others criticised the extravagant light show.

Gender reveal parties are held during pregnancy to unveil the sex of the expected child, sometimes announced by pink or blue smoke fireworks.

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The Dubai show coincided with a deadly blaze in California ignited by a firework at a gender reveal party.

“What a waste!” said one Twitter user, after reports that the couple – whose families originally come from war-ravaged Syria – had spent tens of thousands of dollars on the stunt, allegations they denied.

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“We want to do something special but also memorable,” Asala said.

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