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Don't drink alcohol on the plane to the UAE or you go to jail (1 Viewer)

gianmarco

gianmarco

Footballguy
Ridiculous
 

A British woman and her four-year-old daughter were locked up in a jail in Dubai for three days, after it was found the former had consumed a glass of complimentary red wine on an Emirates flight from the United Kingdom.

Dr. Ellie Holman, 44, who is a mother of three and a dentist, from Sevenoaks, Kent, said as soon as she and her daughter, Bibi, got off the flight on July 13 at Dubai International Airport, the pair were taken aside and questioned by immigration officials.

One of the main questions Holman was asked was whether she had consumed alcohol during her eight-hour-long flight. She answered in the affirmative, as it was supposed to be common knowledge that alcohol was served with the meal as standard practice on Emirates Airlines flights from the U.K. to Dubai.

However, Holman was informed by the official interrogating her that possession of alcohol – even if consumed – was a crime in the UAE.

In addition, she claimed she was also told her visa was valid only for a single trip and that she needed to buy a ticket and return to London immediately.

"The thought of buying another ticket and turning straight around for another long flight was unthinkable," she told , and hence, the dentist pleaded them to allow her to apply for a new visa at the airport as her daughter was exhausted.

The “dismissive and rude” official refused to listen to any rhyme or reason, and olman and her daughter’s passports and cellphones were confiscated. They were then detained in a detention cell inside the airport.

At one point, the mother-daughter pair was escorted to the police station where Holman was asked to submit a sample of blood for alcohol testing. Even after the results revealed her blood alcohol content was 0.04 percent, which was far below the U.K. drink-drive limit, they were not released.

While inside the jail cell, the pair was initially not given any food or water despite Holman begging the detention staff. And when they did receive food, it was inedible.

“The food smelled like rotting garbage and neither Bibi nor I could face trying it. I stayed awake for the whole three days," she said. They were also denied a change of clothing or pillows and forced to sleep in a canteen area used by other inmates, which, without air conditioning, was "baking hot and foul smelling".

"My daughter is a happy, smiley girl, but she was terrified," she said.

Holman further claimed when her friends in Dubai tried to visit the duo in jail, their requests were denied. What’s more, she was never informed of such requests.

Holman’s partner Gary flew to Dubai in sheer anxiety, not having heard back from the former or their daughter for days. After three days, Holman and her daughter were released from the detention cell. While Bibi went back to the U.K. with her father, Holman was forced to stay back in Dubai at a friend’s place.

"Ellie is a sensible, professional person and excellent mother who would never knowingly break the law,” Gary said. “Why do Emirates Airlines serve alcohol for a passenger to drink and then pass through the airport. This has been devastating for the whole family. Ellie was taking a much needed break with little Bibi, who was looking forward to the beach and playing in the sea.”

Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained In Dubai, the British human rights NGO representing Holman said in a statement: "The UAE maintains a deliberately misleading façade that alcohol consumption is perfectly legal for visitors. This is exampled by bars at the airport, by , restaurants and clubs serving drinks. Tourists cannot be blamed for believing that the Emirates are tolerant of Western drinking habits but this is far from reality.”

“It is wholly illegal for any tourist to have any level of alcohol in their blood. It is illegal to consume alcohol at a bar, a and a restaurant and if breathalysed, that person will be jailed,” she added.

And seems like Holman’s case is not one to get resolved soon.

“My passport remains confiscated until the case is settled, which I have been told will take at least a year,” she said. “So far this situation has cost me around £30,000 in legal fees, expenses and missed work. My practice is closed. All our savings have gone.”
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If she was at .04 after being detained and later transported to a police station, she had more than a glass of wine with dinner.  Just saying.

She should have lied though.

 
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Juxtatarot said:
If she was at .04 after being detained and later transported to a police station, she had more than a glass of wine with dinner.  Just saying.

She should have lied though.
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Definitely should have lied. But man over there that might have been punishable by death. Why does anyone go there again?

 
I've not been to the middle east, but my parent have, and they say the flight attendants come through the plane collecting alcoholic beverages as soon as they hit prohibited air space.

My guess, without reading, is she kept her stash hidden, and drank the alcohol while in UAE air space.

 
My wife flies Emirates all the time and has definitely had alcohol while on board. Never any issues in Dubai, although she has never left the airport, just transited through on layover.

 
Sinn Fein said:
I've not been to the middle east, but my parent have, and they say the flight attendants come through the plane collecting alcoholic beverages as soon as they hit prohibited air space.

My guess, without reading, is she kept her stash hidden, and drank the alcohol while in UAE air space.
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My wife says that this doesn't happen on her flights from Dulles to Dubai, although when they are in UAE air space, it's breakfast time, so no alcohol is served. No specific collection of alcohol though to her knowledge.

####ty situaton and I don't want to victim blame here, but I find the story unlikely to have happened like she says.

 
Should have went to Bahrain. I drank like a fish the three months I was there back in in the day. Fun times, except for the drunk Saudis - they're the worst.

 
Juxtatarot said:
If she was at .04 after being detained and later transported to a police station, she had more than a glass of wine with dinner.  Just saying.

She should have lied though.
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Lie to arab police? She'd be better off hanging herself and save the UAE the trouble of an execution.

 
The Z Machine said:
My wife says that this doesn't happen on her flights from Dulles to Dubai, although when they are in UAE air space, it's breakfast time, so no alcohol is served. No specific collection of alcohol though to her knowledge.

####ty situaton and I don't want to victim blame here, but I find the story unlikely to have happened like she says.
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Yeah, something seems off.

1. The visa part makes no sense as written. The visa was only good for one trip so they were sending her back? Does that mean she had used that visa before and gone there? If so, then that is 100% on her and they had every right to refuse her entry and send her right back. My bet is that she flipped out on them at this point and THAT is why she is being held. Probably drunk when it all happened and that's where the alcohol issue comes in. Because the story goes from them denying her entry and telling her she has to turn around and go home, to them detaining her and taking her passport without any real explanation.

Her legal representation is now trying to portray the entire country as backward nutjobs to try to cover for their client and put pressure on them to just let her go.

At least, that seems to be the more likely scenario to me.

 
I don't buy this. .04 after landing, she was going HAM on the flight. I love to drink, but if you're voluntarily going to the UAE or a country where drinking is prohibited, you have to be aware of the law of the land and abide by it or just not go.

 
My friend was in Saudi for 2 weeks for work and said he was dying for a beer..what do people do there to unwind?

 
Da Guru said:
My friend was in Saudi for 2 weeks for work and said he was dying for a beer..what do people do there to unwind?
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Yeah, I've always wondered about this too. I get that it's their culture and law, but is just  :loco:  to me what you do otherwise.

 
There is alcohol in Dubai, right? At hotels and restaurants? I'm almost certain of that. This story does seem weird.

 
whoknew said:
There is alcohol in Dubai, right? At hotels and restaurants? I'm almost certain of that. This story does seem weird.
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Yes.  I've traveled there a couple of times, and alcohol was available in hotels and some restaurants.  You generally had to go to a separate section - usually the lowest level of the hotel, for instance.  But readily available, and I was there during Ramadan. :shrug:   Agree the story doesn't add up.

By the way, Dubai is a fantastic place to visit.  Terrific restaurants, really nice people, stunning architecture and culture.  Just try not to go during Ramadan when you can't eat or drink in public between sunrise and sundown - was a bit rough not to be able to drink water in 130-degree heat. :lol:  

 
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Been to Dubai to speak at a conference a few years back - as noted above, there are plenty of bars and restaurants at which you can drink - something here doesn't add up. 

Hell, clubs are serving almost all night into the morning on all but maybe 2-3 of the most religious holidays. 

That said, the legal system there seems sketchy at best - and being a woman puts someone at a huge disadvantage (i.e. There are a number of cases where a woman was raped / allegedly raped, and SHE ended up being charged with having sex out of wedlock, not to mention a woman's word against a male's is usually all but but worthless).

 
I think this woman has left out some details in her "story".   Maybe she was too drunk to remember everything though.   

 
Like Koya and krista4, I've been to Dubai and this story seems really off to me.  All of the hotel bars serve alcohol.  Some of those bars, particularly on the top floor with great views, are filled with drinking Emiratis, the privileged class there.  There's more to this.

 
Juxtatarot said:
The whole story is weird.  If there are many flights every day going to the UAE that drinking is allowed on, why isn't stuff like this happening all the time? 
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IMO, that’s even more worrying. Crazy AND unpredictable are not a good mix.

 
I can't find the article now, but what I read had her having some issue with the immigration officials.  She took out her phone, started filming everything, and started talking about how they were violating her rights. That's when they there the book at her. Crazy western woman lecturing government officials of another country with strict laws isn't a good idea. Flew through there on the way to and from Africa.  Smelled like booze cause I was drunk on the plane. I had no problems.  Don't be an ####### in other countries. It's one of the first rules of travel.

 
I was in Dubai a couple years ago. Drank some wine on BA flight enroute. Had drinks in hotel bar and other restaurants during a week stay. No problems. 

 
whoknew said:
There is alcohol in Dubai, right? At hotels and restaurants? I'm almost certain of that. This story does seem weird.
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Story is not weird at all.  Alcohol can only be purchased and drank in very specific hotel areas of Dubai, not so much restaurants with a couple exceptions. Even the Buffalo Wild Wings is alcohol free. When I first started going about 8 years ago, it was only specific hotels, no bars or restaurants except in hotels.  Now, there is a bar at the Mall of Emirates and a couple other places to drink.  Most places offer alcohol free drinks on their cocktail menus like virgin mojitos.  Bahrain is mostly the same way. This makes the hotels the party scenes of the city. 

Respect the culture and you will be fine.  She probably had an attitude with the wrong people and drank wine after the flight crew told her to put it away and was belligerent.  I’ve never had a problem in Dubai, but I’m also never an ####### to law enforcement. 

One time I got so drunk at a pool bar I tried to walk to the beach and ride the camels.  I ended up laying down (passing out) way down at the beach somewhere along the way and the hotel crew offered to give me a ride back in a golf cart.  I took the ride and sobered back up for the club that night.  Don’t be an ####### and you won’t be in jail. 

 
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I'm yet another poster who has been to the UAE. I loved it and would happily go back. Even met some local chicks on tinder during my stay. It's definitely a lot more strict than here in the states, but they give you a lot of leeway if you're clearly not a local. There's plenty of booze to be had if you desire. 

This story doesn't make sense from the information given. It's possible, I suppose, but I'm guessing once the whole story comes out we'll find out she was at fault here somehow. Beyond drinking booze on the plane. Probably acted like a jackass and now has to suffer the consequences.

 
dschuler said:
Story is not weird at all.  Alcohol can only be purchased and drank in very specific hotel areas of Dubai, not so much restaurants with a couple exceptions. Even the Buffalo Wild Wings is alcohol free. When I first started going about 8 years ago, it was only specific hotels, no bars or restaurants except in hotels.  Now, there is a bar at the Mall of Emirates and a couple other places to drink.  Most places offer alcohol free drinks on their cocktail menus like virgin mojitos.  Bahrain is mostly the same way. This makes the hotels the party scenes of the city. 

Respect the culture and you will be fine.  She probably had an attitude with the wrong people and drank wine after the flight crew told her to put it away and was belligerent.  I’ve never had a problem in Dubai, but I’m also never an ####### to law enforcement. 

One time I got so drunk at a pool bar I tried to walk to the beach and ride the camels.  I ended up laying down (passing out) way down at the beach somewhere along the way and the hotel crew offered to give me a ride back in a golf cart.  I took the ride and sobered back up for the club that night.  Don’t be an ####### and you won’t be in jail. 
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Of course her "story" is weird. Her "story" is that she was detained, her passport has been taken, and has had to spend tens of thousands of pounds on legal fees merely because she consumed a glass of wine on the plane and there was still alcohol in her system when she landed. Nowhere in her story did she admit she was drunk or belligerant. In fact, she's the one who claims they were belligerant towards her for no reason other than she had alcohol in her system. Given your "story," the "stories" of others in this thread, and "stories" I've heard from several friends who have either lived or travelled there, there is no way in hell her "story" is true.

 
Christo said:
Of course her "story" is weird. Her "story" is that she was detained, her passport has been taken, and has had to spend tens of thousands of pounds on legal fees merely because she consumed a glass of wine on the plane and there was still alcohol in her system when she landed. Nowhere in her story did she admit she was drunk or belligerant. In fact, she's the one who claims they were belligerant towards her for no reason other than she had alcohol in her system. Given your "story," the "stories" of others in this thread, and "stories" I've heard from several friends who have either lived or travelled there, there is no way in hell her "story" is true.
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.04 was her BAC. Nice victim blaming in here. Oh and the charges have since been dropped - likely due to the deservedly bad PR.

 
What's with some people HAVING to drink alcohol? It's like their world ends if they can't get their hands on a beer or wine every few hours.

 
Jobber said:
.04 was her BAC. Nice victim blaming in here. Oh and the charges have since been dropped - likely due to the deservedly bad PR.
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.04 was her BAC after deplaning, spending time in customs, fighting with customs, getting transported to the holding cell for a while and THEN being tested.

 
GroveDiesel said:
.04 was her BAC after deplaning, spending time in customs, fighting with customs, getting transported to the holding cell for a while and THEN being tested.
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I was going to say the same thing.  How many hours later did they finally blood test her that she was still a 0.04?  I bet she was closer to stumbling off of the plane or slurring enough that they asked her about drinking.

 
Christo said:
Of course her "story" is weird. Her "story" is that she was detained, her passport has been taken, and has had to spend tens of thousands of pounds on legal fees merely because she consumed a glass of wine on the plane and there was still alcohol in her system when she landed. Nowhere in her story did she admit she was drunk or belligerant. In fact, she's the one who claims they were belligerant towards her for no reason other than she had alcohol in her system. Given your "story," the "stories" of others in this thread, and "stories" I've heard from several friends who have either lived or travelled there, there is no way in hell her "story" is true.
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What? People get their passports taken away everyday there.  My buddy got arrested and would have gone to jail for having a pocket knife in his backpack.  A girl had to have one of the guys in our crew order Starbucks for her because the cashier wouldn’t take her order.  There are sex and work slaves littered everywhere throughout the city.  It might not be Syria, but it’s also not America.  

 
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