A UK citizen has been sentenced to three months in jail in Dubai after “insulting” airport staff who were slow to bring his mother a wheelchair.
The unnamed man was originally issued a Dh 10,000 (£2,150) fine, but his appeal against this failed and his punishment was extended to a jail term on 6 November.
An airport employee told the court that the man swore at her after she had explained the airport’s wheelchair policy to him, telling him that “a wheelchair would be made available before boarding the bus”.
“When I tried to explain it to him, he insulted me using very bad language. I told the traveller that using such offensive language is not allowed at Dubai airport but he responded that he didn’t care.”
The employee then called the police, and a case was filed against the man in Dubai’s Criminal Court. Following an appeal, which he lost, the fine was escalated into a jail sentence, followed by immediate deportation.
I mean, insulting staff is disgusting behaviour, but 3 months of prison is absolutely insane. These countries are still hellholes stuck in the past, and I’ll make sure never to visit them.
He could have just paid the £2,150 fine, but instead he chose to appeal…
Engaging in legal action in a foreign country isn’t exactly the brightest idea. Pay the fine and get out.
Like, 3 months is an insane sentence, but it sounds like he just leaned in at every opportunity.
Ah, yes, the victim blaming.
There is no world in which male Karen is the victim.
The victim here is the abused worker, not the entitled tourist.
Okay bud, tell me more about how the hurt feefees justify jailtime in a shithole country.
This is more leopards ate my face territory. Go for a little trip to the place that’s kind of known for human rights abuses and a touch of disdain for western cultural values, and proceed to engage in activities that cause you to have to deal with their legal system. Twice.
If the UAE is a shithole then what is the UK? They have a similar law in place with a stiffer sentence if found guilty - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/64/section/4
In the UK it could be up to 6 months jail. He got off light.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1986/64/section/4