Flight of fancy: How media got it wrong over woman detained at Dubai airport

Dr Ellie Holman and four-year-old daughter Bibi (pictured together) have been told they can return home after being locked up in a Dubai prison. (Courtesy of social media)

LONDON: It was no surprise that the story of a woman detained at Dubai airport for supposedly having had a glass of wine on an Emirates flight went around the world.
International media jumped at the chance to publish yet another salacious tale from the emirate — and this one seemingly had all the ingredients the press love: A 44-year-old doctor from the UK traveling with her 4-year-old daughter was asked a simple question about alcohol consumption by an immigration official, she answered truthfully, saying she had had a glass of wine, and was then locked up for three days with her daughter.
On paper it is not hard to see why the story made headlines around the world, but according to Esam Issa Al-Humaidan, the attorney general of Dubai, the true tale was far more mundane and far from the outrage-inducing story told by outlets such as The Daily Mail in the UK.
Having completed an investigation into the case, the Dubai Public Prosecution revealed that far from being arrested for drinking one glass of wine, Ellie Holman, a Swedish national based in the UK, was detained because she had been rude to immigration staff having tried to enter on an expired passport.
Having been told she could not enter on her expired Swedish passport, Holman produced an Iranian one; she was then informed by the immigration officer that she could enter the country having been issued with a new temporary visa, which allowed a 96-hour stay.
The attorney general said Holman took exception to this news, which required her to change her departure flight.
“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,” a statement from Al-Humaidan said.
“A legal claim was issued against Ms. Holman with charges of profanity and photographing a government official at the border crossing, a restricted area.”
Far from being locked up for three days, the attorney general said Holman and her daughter were released within 24 hours of the incident, allowing the child to return to the UK with her father.
“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 4-year-old daughter.
“Her father received (his daughter) immediately upon his arrival and they subsequently departed the country.”
The British press in particular sensationalized the story, with the MailOnline reporting that Holman said her daughter was not allowed to use a toilet.
The prosecution decided to drop the charges against Hollman and to deport her instead.