Puma has pulled a line of shoes featuring the colors of the United Arab Emirates flag following criticism that the sneakers were disrespectful. Following protests, the shoes bearing the national colors of red, white, black and green were pulled off store shelves in Dubai and other Emirati cities.

Puma also apologized and  said it “never intended to upset or offend” customers in the Middle East.

Puma launched the limited-edition shoes to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the UAE. Shoes in the region are considered dirty and showing the soles of one's shoes is considered disrespectful throughout the Arab world.