• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Strict rules for tourists as British teen faces 20 years in Dubai prison after having sex with girl on holiday

Home> Lifestyle> Travel

Updated 09:27 21 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 09:24 21 Nov 2024 GMT

Strict rules for tourists as British teen faces 20 years in Dubai prison after having sex with girl on holiday

The 18-year-old was reportedly taken into custody without explanation

Jess Battison

Jess Battison

Featured Image Credit: Detained In Dubai

Topics: Travel, UK News, World News, Prison

Jess Battison
Jess Battison

Jess is a Senior Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include asking everyone in the office what they're having for tea, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021.

X

@jessbattison_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Even if it might seem like the most luxurious, dream holiday for many, Dubai comes with a whole host of strict rules that tourists need to follow.

Having headed out there for a family trip, a British teen is currently facing 20 years in a Dubai prison after having sex with a girl.

UAE Civil & Criminal Justice Specialists Detained in Dubai report that 18-year-old Marcus Fakana had travelled to the city for a holiday with his parents back on 26 August.

And while there, the Tottenham lad struck up a romance with a fellow Londoner.

Advert

Marcus said they ‘had a wonderful time together’ and they’d hoped to continue their relationship back in the UK.

However, they were having to keep things secret from her family.

18-year-old Marcus faces up to 20 years in prison. (Detained In Dubai)
18-year-old Marcus faces up to 20 years in prison. (Detained In Dubai)

What led to Marcus' arrest?

“We really liked each other, but she was secretive with her family because they were strict,” he said.

Advert

“My parents knew about our relationship, but she couldn’t tell hers. She had to meet me without telling them it was to see a boy.”

He was excited to see her again when he got home, but then police suddenly showed up at his hotel, and he was taken into custody without any explanation. Marcus was detained for three days, unable to contact his parents.

It is understood that the girl’s mother found the pair’s chats and photos when they returned to the UK, and contacted police in Dubai.

At the time, she was a few months younger than Marcus and has since turned 18.

Dubai recently changed the rules for tourists around sex. (Getty Stock)
Dubai recently changed the rules for tourists around sex. (Getty Stock)

What are the rules in Dubai?

Chief executive of Detained in Dubai, Radha Stirling, explained that the recent rule changes in Dubai means sex outside of marriage is legal for tourists, but only if both parties are over the age of 18.

Advert

“Dubai has only recently legalised out-of-wedlock sex for tourists but still hosts a strict Islamic legal system,” the campaigner explained.

“The girl was just a few months younger than Marcus and he didn’t know that at the time,” said Stirling. “Since his arrest, she has turned 18.

“This is not something Dubai should be prosecuting.”

Unlike the stricter rules of Dubai, Marcus and the girl’s relationship would not be illegal.

Stirling added that the woman was 'clearly a very strict mother to involve police in a private matter that is completely legal in the country where she lives and where the children have grown up'.

Advert

However, she may not have realised that she was potentially causing Marcus to face up to 20 years in prison.

What is Marcus' situation now?

"I’m living in Airbnbs that are costing my family £2,000 per month. They had to go home to work. They earn a humble living, my mother is a cleaner and my dad works in a warehouse,” the 18-year-old said.

"They saved up for this one-off holiday and they have now used all of their savings. The police demanded 10,000 AED for bail which I’ve been told is not normal and the costs are mounting.

"I’m here all alone. I pray this nightmare will be over and I’ll be home for Christmas."

Choose your content:

23 hours ago
a day ago
  • 23 hours ago

    Therapist of 45 years explains main reason why people cheat on their partners

    There are often multiple reasons why a person will cheat in a relationship

    Lifestyle
  • a day ago

    Five Guys customer shares receipt from 14 years ago and people are ‘outraged’ at the difference

    Looking for evidence that food prices have skyrocketed? You're in the right place

    Lifestyle
  • a day ago

    Couple who live full time on cruise ship share 'true' amount it costs them in total

    More and more people are seeking a life away from land

    Lifestyle
  • a day ago

    Swingers explain why they wear black ring that is a major sign someone is one

    The subtle accessory says a lot

    Lifestyle
  • Strict rules tourists must follow as British teen jailed in Dubai after having sex with girl on holiday
  • British teen jailed in Dubai after having sex with girl on holiday
  • British teen breaks silence as he's jailed in Dubai after having sex with girl on holiday
  • People left terrified after seeing 'tsunami cloud' on British holiday hotspot beach