Another Dubai fiasco [PAX deported after trying to enter with expired passport]

[cambriamarsh]

Does anyone know any more about this, courtesy NZ Herald

Mum and daughter locked up in Dubai jail for three days for having wine on flight

On an EK flight from London to Dubai no less! If true and not a beat up would appear that 90% of adult passengers are at risk when flying into DXB.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Read that report too. Apparently the OP decided to argue with the officials about her visa having expired.

Seems to me it's not a good idea to argue, rant, become loud, etc., whether you have had one drink, or two, or even none at all.

 

[Denali]

From what I read, she arrived with expired visa and kicked up a stink when told she had to return to the UK.

 

[cambriamarsh]

From what I read, she arrived with expired visa and kicked up a stink when told she had to return to the UK.

Still seems a bit OTT to lock her up!

 

[Deleted member]

I feel for the lady, but frankly as an intelligent / Professional woman I would have thought she would have done her homework. It is also a matter of public recorded what happens if you run foul of petty officials in a society where women are still largely treated as chattels.
I for one have had my fill of the Middle East, and flying via Hong Kong or Singapore to Europe is a much better opinion IMHO.

 

[Denali]

Still seems a bit OTT to lock her up!

Depends how much of a stink she kicked up. Remember, she's a visitor in a very male dominated country. Tread lightly, especially if you're in the wrong in the first place ie, visa expired.

 

[Pushka]

There is so much more to this story. We were even served alcohol on QR before the doors had closed in Doha during Ramadan. And Qatar is far stricter than Dubai.

And why did she need a visa in the first place?

 

[oz_mark]

There is so much more to this story. We were even served alcohol on QR before the doors had closed in Doha during Ramadan. And Qatar is far stricter than Dubai.

And why did she need a visa in the first place?

Only citizens from a handful of countries can get a VOA. Anyway, it seems to have all gone downhill when she tried to record the argument with the officer.

 

[Pushka]

She was Swedish. Perhaps she got her dates wrong, stayed for longer than 90 days already - she did something wrong I’d say

 

[drron]

A bit more.She started to take a video of the officer apparently before she was arrested.
Ellie Holman: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com
And although described as a dentist that is only part time with the NHS.This is her business.
DR ELLIE HOLMAN AESTHETICS

You really do have to ask is there a lot more to this story such as why multiple visits to Dubai.

 

[mannej]

Without reading the article, I’m assuming it is clickbait?

 

[Nisho]

I believe recording a person in UAE is deemed illegal which prompted her arrest.

Re: the visa, I’m surprised she was not refused boarding in the UK, but then again it should have been her responsibility to verify her visa status.

 

[odysseus]

So, basically... nothing to do with having wine on the flight.

 

[JohnPhelan]

I believe recording a person in UAE is deemed illegal which prompted her arrest.

Re: the visa, I’m surprised she was not refused boarding in the UK, but then again it should have been her responsibility to verify her visa status.

Filming immigration officers in the processing area is banned in just about every country in the world! She had an expired visa, argued with the officer, filmed the officer in a no-filming-permitted area, and …..was obviously intoxicated. Hours later, she recorded a BAC of .04%.

 

[JohnK]

Read that report too. Seems to me that the OP decided to argue with the officials about her visa having expired.

Seems to me it's not a good idea to argue, rant, become loud, etc., whether you have had one drink, or two.

There may well be more to the story but regardless appears to be an extreme overreaction in handling the situation.

And now forced to wait until the trial?

 

[cambriamarsh]

There is so much more to this story. We were even served alcohol on QR before the doors had closed in Doha during Ramadan. And Qatar is far stricter than Dubai.

And why did she need a visa in the first place?

Please tell more

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I saw some program on this... alcohol in the system is a problem and can get you in trouble. 99.999% of time it doesn’t matter... you go out for a night and have no reason to be stopped by the police. But if you do something which gets you arrested, and they test for alcohol, then you get done for that as well.

I think the program was about a man and woman kissing (goodbye to each other)... cousins or something. They got done for that but also for the alcohol in their system.

edited... i see all of my post is covered in the news articles on line today (intoxication etc etc)

 

[Renato1]

When discussing overseas travel with people who don't travel much, I often initially get weird looks when I say that Dubai is a favourite destination of my wife and me. I guess it's due to fake news headlines like this one - when one knows there is no problem getting alcohol in the Dubai hotels and Emirates planes..

More importantly, unlike in other Islamic countries, I actually got real bacon with my eggs for breakfast instead of that lousy "beef bacon" served up as a substitute in stricter places.
Regards,
Renato

 

[rock86]

There may well be more to the story but regardless appears to be an extreme overreaction in handling the situation.

And now forced to wait until the trial?

Or, don't be a loud mouth Westerner and then try to film immigration officials in a secure area....

Typical Guardian reporting, not telling anywhere near the whole story.

 

[davidj]

So what does this have to do with wine on the flight? Fake news?