A British woman in her thirties has been detained in Dubai after her flatmate reported her to the police over a single swear word sent in a WhatsApp message during a lockdown argument. The human resources manager, who has lived in Dubai since 2018, was preparing to return to England when she was stopped at the airport and told she could not leave due to a police case against her.
The dispute occurred months ago when the woman contacted her housemate about using the dining table while working from home. The discussion escalated, and she used a swear word in a message before forgetting about the incident. However, the flatmate later filed a complaint under Dubai's strict cybercrime laws, leading to the woman's detention.
Speaking to aid organisation Detained in Dubai, the woman expressed shock at being criminalised over a private exchange. 'I would never have expected a European to take advantage of the UAE’s strict laws,' she said. 'I’ve never been in trouble in my life, and I’m shocked that I’ve been criminalised over a private WhatsApp exchange with someone whom I lived with.'
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, warned that the UAE's cybercrime laws are extraterritorial and can be used to prosecute individuals for statements made outside the country. 'Visitors to the UAE can be arrested, detained and prosecuted over a swear word, an offensive statement or derogatory comment said in the heat of the moment,' she said. 'The absurdity of these laws allows for vindictive individuals to hold jail cards over people they interact with.'
The woman now faces lengthy legal proceedings, which could take months and result in significant costs for hotel accommodation, legal fees, and visa overstay fines. Stirling cautioned that even a frivolous case can escalate into tens of thousands of pounds, loss of employment, or a prison sentence.
