Women detained in Dubai ‘after glass of wine on plane’

[Aridane]

Reading today’s Guardian and came across this.

Swedish dentist travelling with four year old daughter from London to Dubai had a glass of wine on the flight. Taken into custody as had an invalid visa and pending return to UK. Blood test then administered to test for alcohol. As a result of which apparently she and daughter detained for three days and made to clean toilets.

Released on bail, passport confiscated, remaining in Dubai pending hearing in a year.

Can’t do a link as reading a physical newspaper.

Anyone know any more about this? Is there more to it than a glass of wine on the flight and an invalid visa?

Just seems quite odd.

[Huskylover1]

This is why I'd never go to Dubai. How many stories like this have we seen? Loads. They are nutters.

[MVLipwig]

It’s illegal to consume alcohol, or have it in your bloodstream in Dubai. They were treated appallingly but ultimately they did break their laws explaining the arrest. I doubt there’s more to it

[kaytee87]

Link?

[MsOliphant]

From what I could gather- she quite possibly kicked off a bit at immigration staff and tried to film them.

The blood alcohol test was taken after she was detained, for having an invalid visa.

[Kool4katz]

Why is It so difficult to understand the ramifications of trying to travel on an 'invalid visa'?
The wine issue is a click bait/red herring to the story and not really relevant.

[MsOliphant]

Yes, the glass of wine had provided the DM with huugeee click bait appeal.

[PrincessoftheSea]

I would never holiday in Dubai

[PeachQueen]

How ridiculous.

It is not illegal to have alcohol in your bloodstream in Dubai!

Have any of you ever been there?! Have you seen the expat lifestyle?!

[refreshingme]

Yes I am always surprised when people say they are going to Dubai on holiday. Even if I won a £20,000 holiday I would not go.

[AnnieOH1]

What confuses me is, if Dubai is so strict that their law covers alcohol in the body under their "not allowed to carry alcohol" law (if I understand that right), why on earth does Emirates give out alcohol on their planes?

[tectonicplates]

It’s illegal to consume alcohol, or have it in your bloodstream in Dubai.

Then why do they serve alcohol on the plane?

[MsOliphant]

Dubai airport sells alcohol in duty free. There is an Irish pub where you can fill your boots.

She was arrested for resisting the fact that her visa was invalid and refused to be sent back to London.

[CraftyGin]

I think she was detained because she refused to leave the country when told that her visa was invalid.

[RoseAndRose]

From the Aussie press:

"Dr Holman’s nightmare began on July 13 when an official informed her that her visa had expired and she would have to return to London immediately.
But the thought of getting back on the long-haul flight with her young daughter was “unthinkable” and she got in a tense standoff with the officer"

They then tested her for drunkenness at that point it was positive and that is an offence. I suspect much might depend on exactly what happened to lead to the situation being described as 'tense' in the first place.

[CraftyGin]

The first rule of travelling is not to argue with immigration officers.

[legolimb]

Non DM link www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mother-and-daughter-held-in-dubai-after-glass-of-wine-on-flight-twltqccgv

[NotAllIndividuals]

Seems like there's something missing from the story as she should have been entitled to a visa on arrival www.emirates.com/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information/uae-visas/ so not sure how she could have an invalid visa. It seems she pissed off the immigration officer who then threw the book at her. Not condoning it. If Emirates serve booze on the flight it should come with a warning that anyone entering Dubai may be prosecuted, it really would be the sensible thing to do as that is the law.

[CraftyGin]

And definitely do not film them on your mobile phone. What an idiot.

[lakehouse]

I think there's more to this story. You don't need a visa for Dubai (arrival said woman has a UK passport) and clearly many people in Dubai have alcohol in their system. My guess is she kicked up a stink and was trouble 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Aridane]

Hey, I wasn’t starting a thread based on a DM article but a Guardian article (though it did read a bit like a DM article)

[greendale17]

So it has nothing to do with her having an invalid visa, then getting into an argument with customs and then filming them on her phone when asked not to do so.

[MrsJayy]

She had an invalid visa god knows what she was expecting she then filmed it there is alot of allegedly and claims in the articles I read no toilet or food for 3 days ? 😕