Strict rules for Dubai tourists after British student jailed for life after 'very stupid mistake'

With a British student jailed for life in Dubai after a ‘very stupid mistake’, there are strict rules tourists must follow when visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) city.

Mia O’Brien, from Huyton, Liverpool, is being held in the central prison as her mum, Danielle McKenna said she is ‘absolutely devastated’ but did not disclose what crime she is accused of.

“I haven't seen my daughter since last October. Mia is only 23 years old and has never done a bad thing in her life,” she wrote in a now-deleted GoFundMe.

"This is a young girl, who went to university to do law, and unfortunately got mixed up in the wrong so-called friends and made a very stupid mistake and is now paying the price."

As an Islamic city, there are a number of rules and regulations tourists must abide by in Dubai.

There are different rules in the UAE (Getty Images Stock)

Public drinking

It is not only illegal to be drinking alcohol in public in Dubai, but also to be drunk in public.

With a legal drinking age of 21, it was only in 2020 when it was no longer a criminal offence to consume alcohol (a license was previously required).

Nowadays, drinking must be done in private. According to insurance company Expatriate Group, it is an offence under UAE law to display 'behaviour that you may associate with being intoxicated, such as making rude gestures, swearing, and public displays of affection will also be punished if caught'.

Drunk driving, underage drinking, and public drunkenness are zero tolerance offences.

Any drinking offences can land you a hefty fine from authorities if caught.

Inappropriate dress

There isn’t exactly a specific law around how to dress in Dubai but any kind of revealing clothing is generally frowned upon.

Mohammed Talal Al Tamimi, a lawyer at Tamimi & Co, told the Khaleej Times there is an article in the UAE’s penal code saying: “Indecent actions or anything that might be prejudicial to public morals made by a man or woman in public and could be considered as indecency would be punishable by six months to three years and deportation.”

The UK foreign office (FCDO) guidance on this states: “Dress modestly in public areas like shopping malls. Women should cover shoulders and knees, and underwear should not be visible.

"Avoid transparent clothing or any attire that features imagery or phrases that could potentially offend others. Swimming attire should only be worn on beaches or at swimming pools. Cross-dressing is illegal."

Tourists may be subjected to different regulations than they're used to. (Getty Images Stock)

Sex outside marriage

There is no age of consent in Dubai and all sex outside marriage is illegal.

However, recent reforms mean that prosecution for consensual sexual relationships is rare nowadays.

The FCDO also adds: “Showing affection in public is frowned upon. You can be arrested for kissing in public.”

Drugs

There is a zero tolerance for drugs-related offences and the penalties for trafficking, smuggling, using and possessing illegal drugs (including residual amounts) are severe.

The FCDO warns that the sentences for drug trafficking ‘can include the death penalty’.

It adds: “Possession of even the smallest amount of illegal drugs, including cannabis, can lead to a minimum 3-month prison term or a fine of between 20,000 UAE dirham [£4,000] and 100,000 UAE dirham [£20,000]. The Emirati authorities count the presence of drugs in the blood stream as possession.”

Mia's mum has previously asked for help from the public over her daughter's situation (GoFundMe)

Other things that can land you jailed or fined in the UAE

• Pedestrian crossings – it’s illegal to cross the road in places other than designated pedestrian crossings. You can face a fine or even imprisonment for doing so.
• Posting online – it’s illegal to post the likes of videos and photos online that’s critical of the UAE government, companies or individuals, or which relates to incidents in the UAE.
• Swearing and rude gestures – it’s illegal to do either, including online as they’re considered obscene acts. You could be jailed or deported for doing so.
• Feeding stray cats – equivalent of a roughly £100 fine

Mia O’Brien’s case

McKenna told the Daily Mail that her daughter was ‘going through it’ in the Dubai prison.

"She's just been transferred to another prison after getting a life sentence. It's been a massive shock," she added.

She wrote on the now-deleted GoFundMe that ‘none of us’ have seen O’Brien since last October.

An FCDO Spokesperson said to LADbible: "We are supporting the family of a British woman detained in the UAE and are in contact with the local authorities."