Mother jailed in Dubai after one glass of wine ‘filmed airport officials’

DUBAI’S Attorney-General has revealed more details about the British mum who claimed she was jailed over a glass of in-flight wine.

Ellie Holman, 44, was arrested by immigration officials.

DUBAI officials claim a British mother who was thrown in jail for drinking a glass of wine on an Emirates flight from London was “abusive” and “illegally filmed” airport staff.

Dr Ellie Holman, 44, was detained with her daughter, four, after getting into a dispute with staff over her visa — then quizzed over a free drink she was given on the plane.

The dentist, from Sevenoaks in Kent, says they were dumped in a “baking hot and foul-smelling jail” because consuming alcohol in the strict Arab state is illegal.

But officials say she was detained after she began filming the heated discussion with an immigration official on her phone.

In a new statement, Dubai’s Attorney-General said the incident started when Ms Holman tried to enter the city with a Swedish passport, which had expired on June 10.

She then presented an Iranian passport, but was told she could only enter the United Arab Emirates with a new temporary visa that would allow her to stay for 96 hours — which meant she would have to change her flights.

“Ms Holman refused angrily due to the additional payment fees the process would require, and proceeded to verbally insult the immigration officer and take photos of the officer via her phone,” Attorney-General Esam Issa Al Humaidan.

“A legal claim was issued against Ms Holman with charges of profanity and photographing a government official at the border crossing, a restricted area.

The wine-drinking mother detained in Dubai ‘illegally filmed staff’.

“The woman and her child remained together in the airport security office for less than 24 hours while services were provided to them, taking into full account and consideration of her four-year-old daughter.

“Her father received her immediately upon his arrival and they subsequently departed the country.”

He said the public prosecutor had decided to drop the charges against Ms Holman and deport her instead.

Earlier, a Dubai Airport official disputed Ms Holman’s version of events.

“She was not turned away because she had a one-visit visa, as she claimed, because European citizens get a 30-day visa upon arrival,” the official told The Sun.

“UAE law is strict on people recording others on their mobile phone without permission, which will not have helped Dr Holman’s case. She became abusive towards airport staff, which is not tolerated.

“We cannot comment further as Dr Holman’s case is still under review but there is more to her story than she has told.”

Dr Holman was visiting Dubai with daughter Bibi for a five-day break and it is understood she’s a regular visitor to the city where she is well-known in the Brit expat community.

She is also said to regularly fly over for weeks at a time to carry out beauty procedures such as Botox.

She said she was arrested for drinking wine on an Emirates flight. Picture: Supplied

Getting on the wrong side of an immigration official resulted in her spending three days in a cramped detention centre without food, water and airconditioning.

Her ordeal began on July 13 when she stepped off the eight-hour flight to be told her visa was only valid for one visit and she’d have to return to London immediately.

But she says getting back on the long-haul flight with Bibi was “unthinkable” and she got in a tense standoff with the officer at Dubai International Airport.

Dr Holman, originally from Sweden, said he then asked whether she had been drinking and she said she had a free glass of wine given to her by Emirates staff.

The official informed Dr Holman that possession of alcohol is a crime in the UAE, even if it is inside a person’s body, and she was arrested and led away to the cells.

Dr Holman said: “My daughter is a happy, smiley girl, but now she was terrified.

“My little girl had to go to the toilet on the cell floor. I have never heard her cry in the same way as she did in that cell.”

She has been bailed.

She’s since been bailed but Detained in Dubai said Dr Holman’s passport has been confiscated by officials and she faces a long wait for the case to be resolved.

Meanwhile, her husband Gary flew out to Dubai to take Bibi home to Kent while Dr Holman stays with friends in Dubai.

David High, partner at Detained in Dubai said: “It’s heartbreaking to see a mother and child arrested over something so trivial as a glass of wine.

“This is not a country that tourists should be spending their money in or supporting in any way.

“The UAE jails people for poppy seed bread rolls, for prescribed medicines, for their use of twitter and for consuming alcohol at licensed premises.

“It persecutes the LGBTQ community and jails rape victims for sex outside marriage. British nationals are strongly advised to avoid the UAE and choose safer holiday destinations.”

This story originally appeared on The Sun and was republished with permission.