A British citizen has been reported by UAE authorities to the X platform for a post that contravenes UAE cybercrime laws.
A British man has revealed he has been warned he risks arrest if he travels to Dubai, despite never having committed any offence within the UAE. His alleged “crime” was posting a tweet while in Manchester.
Nick Buckley MBE says UAE authorities have reportedly flagged his social media posts as illegal, warning that he could face arrest if he enters the country. Despite posting from Manchester, he has been told his activity may fall foul of the UAE’s expansive cybercrime laws, which allow authorities to pursue individuals for content deemed harmful to the state, even if it was published outside the country. The warning has effectively barred him from travelling to Dubai and the Gulf, raising serious concerns about the extraterritorial reach of UAE law.
The case also raises wider concerns given Dubai’s role as a major global transit hub. Millions of international travellers pass through its airports each year, many with no intention of entering the country. If individuals can be detained based on online activity conducted abroad, it creates a significant and unpredictable risk for passengers simply transiting through the UAE.
According to Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai and founder of Due Process International, this is not an isolated case. “We are increasingly seeing individuals warned, investigated or even detained for online activity conducted entirely outside the UAE. The laws are so broadly framed that a tweet, private message, or shared content can be interpreted as a criminal act if authorities decide it damages the country’s reputation or public order. We saw it with Laleh Shahravesh and with Craig Ballentine.”
Detained in Dubai warns the UAE’s cybercrime framework allows for severe penalties, including imprisonment and substantial fines, and worse where cases are escalated under national security provisions. In some instances, individuals have reportedly been detained for sharing or forwarding content in private conversations.
“This creates a dangerous precedent,” Stirling added. “Foreign nationals who have never lived in the UAE, and may only be transiting through its airports, are now at risk. It undermines basic principles of jurisdiction and legal certainty.”
The issue was discussed directly between Stirling and Buckley on his podcast, “Nick Buckley BARRED From Dubai Forever After UK Post - Or Be Arrested!”, where they explored the growing risks posed by the UAE’s cybercrime enforcement to foreign nationals.
The case comes amid growing scrutiny of the UAE’s use of cybercrime laws, particularly following recent reports of arrests linked to social media activity and the sharing of footage during regional security incidents. Critics argue that the laws are being applied inconsistently and disproportionately, with tourists and expatriates caught in a widening net.
Detained in Dubai is calling for clearer guidance from authorities and stronger diplomatic engagement from foreign governments to protect their citizens. Without reform, they warn, the UAE risks deterring tourism, damaging its international reputation, and placing ordinary travellers in legal jeopardy for conduct that would be lawful elsewhere.
Nick Buckley’s case highlights a stark reality: in today’s digital landscape, what you post at home could have serious consequences abroad. “We’ve dealt with many cases where transit passengers have been detained en route to Asia or Australia. Governments need to update their travel advice,” warns Stirling.
