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Why Would Anyone Travel to Dubai?


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https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/10/british-mum-jailed-daughter-4-drinking-glass-wine-flight-dubai-7821529/

British mum jailed with daughter, 4, after drinking glass of wine on flight to Dubai

Actually, she was detained because she didn't have a valid visa! She "assumed" that her one-use visa was good for multiple visits but was wrong. The alcohol issue only became an issue while talking to the officials about the visa.

 

FAKE HEADLINE!

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Actually, she was detained because she didn't have a valid visa! She "assumed" that her one-use visa was good for multiple visits but was wrong. The alcohol issue only became an issue while talking to the officials about the visa.

 

FAKE HEADLINE!

 

Exactly. Another example of the tabloid newspapers sensationalising something with an eye catching headline. I believe she was detained due to a heated altercation over the visa issue that she got into with immigration officials and then trying to film it. Photography within a secure area of any airport is prohibited. The glass of wine is incidental to whatever the visa issues were and to her behaviour towards immigration officers and her actions within a security zone of the airport.... The story as relayed in the press just doesn't add up...

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Can I hijack this thread to ask you a sort of related question Anne.

 

 

We are spending 7 days in Dubai at Christmas time. How easy is it to buy vodka and beer? Do they sell it in supermarkets like here, or do you have to go to a special store like a US liquor store?...or do we just bring duty free with us, as I see the allowance to enter UAE is 4litres of spirit or 48 cans of beer?

 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

 

Simon

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There’s a lot more to this story than is being reported. I have had a drink on many flights to and from Dubai without any problems - it’s freely available on Emirates the national carrier. Alcohol is also available in international hotels but it is more discrete that in western countries. Alcohol isn’t the story here and in answer to the question - yes I would go back to Dubai.

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Can I hijack this thread to ask you a sort of related question Anne.

 

 

We are spending 7 days in Dubai at Christmas time. How easy is it to buy vodka and beer? Do they sell it in supermarkets like here, or do you have to go to a special store like a US liquor store?...or do we just bring duty free with us, as I see the allowance to enter UAE is 4litres of spirit or 48 cans of beer?

 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

 

Simon

 

Wow, I had no idea the allowances were so generous!!! You would have to bring from Duty Free as alcohol is not sold in supermarkets etc. only in special stores. As residents we have permits issued by the police that allow us to purchase alcohol for personal consumption and transport it from the special stores to our homes, etc... If you do bring alcohol in with you keep it in your accommodation, don’t take it to the beach, etc. with you as that would be against the law for anyone without a permit...

 

Anne

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Actually, she was detained because she didn't have a valid visa! She "assumed" that her one-use visa was good for multiple visits but was wrong. The alcohol issue only became an issue while talking to the officials about the visa.

 

FAKE HEADLINE!

Can you support your claim? The article makes it clear that she was detained because she drank alcohol on the plane ("The immigration officer informed her that possession of alcohol, even if consumed, was a crime.") - not because she didn't have a valid visa. You're correct that the alcohol only became an issue while talking to the official about the visa, but the upshot was that she was arrested because of the alcohol not the visa. Until the alcohol issue arose, she was simply informed that she could not enter the country without a valid visa and advised to by a return ticket home.

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Exactly. Another example of the tabloid newspapers sensationalising something with an eye catching headline. I believe she was detained due to a heated altercation over the visa issue that she got into with immigration officials and then trying to film it. Photography within a secure area of any airport is prohibited. The glass of wine is incidental to whatever the visa issues were and to her behavior towards immigration officers and her actions within a security zone of the airport.... The story as relayed in the press just doesn't add up...

I agree that her behavior probably started the whole mess. However, it seems to me that she pissed off the immigration official and he retaliated by using the often overlooked alcohol laws to arrest her. Any country where pissing off a low level government official can result in your being thrown in a detention cell along with your child, having you passport confiscated and being held involuntarily for up to a year in that country until the matter is resolved by their "justice" system (resulting in the closure of your business), is not a country I want to visit.

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Any country where pissing off a low level government official can result in your being thrown in a detention cell along with your child, having you passport confiscated and being held involuntarily for up to a year in that country until the matter is resolved by their "justice" system (resulting in the closure of your business), is not a country I want to visit.

Agreed....there are MANY countries in this world that are probably not a good idea to visit! Those might include many middle eastern ones, socialist/communist ones, those having wars or civil unrest, or those with unstable governments. So, just go to the ones that seem safe to you....it's a personal decision that will likely be different for everyone.

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Follow up article: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/ellie-holman-british-mother-jailed-in-dubai-with-4yearold-daughter-for-drinking-one-glass-of-wine-is-a3909031.html

I find the comment about the ‘stand off’ after it was found that her visa was invalid very interesting. Other reports comment that Ellie became embroiled in a heated exchange with the airport official. She was also filming the immigration officer on her phone which is illegal in a secure area. Ellie was taken to an airport detention centre which is common practice in most countries where the are contraventions to immigration regulations.

We are only getting one side of the story here but my guess is that it was 6 of one and half a dozen of the other and regardless of which country you are entering, if you challenge an immigration officer you will get short shrift. Challenge an immigration officer when entering the USA and you will be on the next flight home. Their country, their rules.

Edited by Omega1
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I'll quite happily fly into Dubai. I'll also likely indulge in a glass of wine during the flight. But I will also ensure that my documentation is in order, before boarding the flight. And I'll keep my phone in my purse while in Immigration. And I'll certainly refrain from getting into a pissing contest with the Immigration officials.

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I'll quite happily fly into Dubai. I'll also likely indulge in a glass of wine during the flight. But I will also ensure that my documentation is in order, before boarding the flight. And I'll keep my phone in my purse while in Immigration. And I'll certainly refrain from getting into a pissing contest with the Immigration officials.

:'):'):') Very wise - clearly the entitled dentist should have taken your advice.

The reports that this episode has cost the family £30000 made me smile - if she had heeded the instructions of the immigration official, instead of arguing the toss, she could have returned to the UK and sorted her visa and gone back to Dubai for £500 two days later.

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I'll quite happily fly into Dubai. I'll also likely indulge in a glass of wine during the flight. But I will also ensure that my documentation is in order, before boarding the flight. And I'll keep my phone in my purse while in Immigration. And I'll certainly refrain from getting into a pissing contest with the Immigration officials.

(y)

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Can you support your claim? The article makes it clear that she was detained because she drank alcohol on the plane ("The immigration officer informed her that possession of alcohol, even if consumed, was a crime.") - not because she didn't have a valid visa. You're correct that the alcohol only became an issue while talking to the official about the visa, but the upshot was that she was arrested because of the alcohol not the visa. Until the alcohol issue arose, she was simply informed that she could not enter the country without a valid visa and advised to by a return ticket home.

 

 

 

She also got stroppy / mouthy with the immigration official and tried to film the encounter. She doesn’t have a lick of common sense.

Her situation was entirely avoidable if she had just done what she was told to do.

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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Try arriving in the US with an invalid visa, have a heated argument with a US Immigration Officer about it and on top of that pull out your camera (prohibited) to film him/her... Where do you think you end up then? Should we stop traveling to the US now? [emoji848][emoji57]

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Still makes Dubai a very hypocritical country. How can you allow hotels & restaurants to sell alcohol then say it’s illegal to drink it!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I see your point but I guess there would have been no problem if she had accepted her visa was invalid and not had a ‘heated exchange’ with the immigration officer. As an Islamic country the UAE has legal controls on alcohol in accordance with religious beliefs but allows exemptions for foreign visitors. In some cases that’s turning a blind eye. Drinking alcohol in licensed hotels/restaurants is not illegal. I don’t think trying to accommodate visitors is hypocritical. When in Rome etc.

FCO guidance: ..it is possible for tourists and visitors to buy and drink alcohol in licensed venues, such as hotels, restaurants and clubs. However, you should be aware that it is a punishable offence under UAE law to drink or be under the influence of alcohol in public. British nationals have been arrested and charged under this law, often in cases where they have come to the attention of the police for a related offence or matter, such as disorderly or offensive behaviour.

Edited by Omega1
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Exactly. Another example of the tabloid newspapers sensationalising something with an eye catching headline. I believe she was detained due to a heated altercation over the visa issue that she got into with immigration officials and then trying to film it.Photography within a secure area of any airport is prohibited. The glass of wine is incidental to whatever the visa issues were and to her behaviour towards immigration officers and her actions within a security zone of the airport.... The story as relayed in the press just doesn't add up...

 

Appreciate ALL of these details, background and follow-ups related to this incident. Very helpful to understand more for the "rest of the story". Clearly some tabloid news sources provide only certain "twists and turns" without full context. It's about "click bait" to attract views on their websites. Will be interesting in December to do our initial visit to this region and learn more first-hand about Dubai, etc.

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 209,722 views for this posting.

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Will be interesting in December to do our initial visit to this region and learn more first-hand about Dubai

I'll be there (and 5 other middle eastern ports) next year on a world cruise.

 

I always dress very modestly (a faith belief of mine) so that won't be a problem but I will also wear a scarf. I will be respectful and polite too.

 

If that English dentist had been polite and respectful she could have gotten right back on a plane and gone home with her daughter. Then she needed to get the right visa before returning. Quite simple.

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I'll be there (and 5 other middle eastern ports) next year on a world cruise.

 

I always dress very modestly (a faith belief of mine) so that won't be a problem but I will also wear a scarf. I will be respectful and polite too.

 

If that English dentist had been polite and respectful she could have gotten right back on a plane and gone home with her daughter. Then she needed to get the right visa before returning. Quite simple.

No need to wear a scarf,just modest dress as you said.Just keep it for visiting a mosque maybe.
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Liquor stores are pretty much nonexistent in Dubai outside of the Duty Free in the airport. Either bring duty-free liquor with you from home or buy it there once you arrive. You won't be able to buy it once you leave the airport except by the drink in hotel bars and higher-end restaurants.

 

 

Can I hijack this thread to ask you a sort of related question Anne.

 

 

We are spending 7 days in Dubai at Christmas time. How easy is it to buy vodka and beer? Do they sell it in supermarkets like here, or do you have to go to a special store like a US liquor store?...or do we just bring duty free with us, as I see the allowance to enter UAE is 4litres of spirit or 48 cans of beer?

 

 

Thanks for your help.

 

 

Simon

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