Russian vlogger’s praise of Hyderabad’s ‘Dubai-like’ skyline sparks online debate

A video posted by Russian vlogger Kseniia praising Hyderabad’s infrastructure has gone viral, drawing both admiration and criticism. The video, which showcases the city’s modern skyline, HITEC City, and urban amenities, has received over 40 lakh likes and sparked a broader discussion on social media about the realities of urban life in the city.

Video highlights infrastructure and skyline

In the video, Kseniia is seen exploring Hyderabad’s HITEC City, describing its infrastructure as “world-class” and comparing the city's aesthetics to Dubai. She highlights features such as well-maintained pavements, organised parking, upscale restaurants, and less traffic relative to other Indian metros like Bengaluru and Gurgaon. A text insert in the video reads, “Habibi, it’s not Dubai. It is Hyderabad,” while the caption adds, “Catching the sunset in HITEC.”

Mixed reactions from viewers

The video triggered mixed reactions online. While some viewers expressed pride in seeing Hyderabad receive international praise, others criticised the video for presenting an incomplete picture of the city.

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“I feel proud that I was born and raised in Hyderabad when I see people around the world praising it,” one user commented. In contrast, others pointed out that the video only featured one small section of the city. “This is not a complete Hyderabad, just one corner,” a second user stated, while another added, “Completely false. Those who live in Hyderabad know how disorganised the city is.”

Concerns about urban challenges

Several users also used the opportunity to highlight persistent urban issues. “All cities in India start developing like this, but then become hell,” one comment read, citing rising migration, traffic congestion, waterlogging, poor drainage, and a lack of civic discipline.