Authorities admit use of electronic surveillance to track private messages as cabin crew member faces state security case
Dubai / London – Detained in Dubai can confirm that another flight attendant has been detained in Dubai under the UAE’s federal cybercrime laws after sharing an image related to recent regional attacks. In a concerning development, authorities say he was identified through “active electronic surveillance”.
A 32-year-old cabin crew member for Emirates Airlines has been held in custody for over a month following his arrest in the early hours of 8 March. He is currently detained at Al Qusais Police Station but fears he will be transferred to Abu Dhabi, which places him at higher risk of extended detention and lengthier sentences if convicted.
According to his family, the young man had only just returned to Dubai after being stranded abroad due to flight disruptions and had not seen or been made aware of any official warnings or restrictions regarding the sharing of images or information. A simple date specific Google search shows how little published information there was at the time.
In the early hours of 7 March, after being woken by a loud explosion and feeling his room shake, the cabin crew employee took a single photograph on his phone and shared it privately via WhatsApp with colleagues, asking whether it was safe to leave for work or remain where he was. He did not publish the image publicly or intend to cause alarm. The image was subsequently forwarded by others.
Despite this, he has been treated as a serious criminal suspect, accused of offences relating to state security and public order.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, said “This is not someone spreading misinformation or attempting to undermine the state. He was reacting to what he believed was a dangerous situation. He had just arrived back in the country, had not seen any warnings, and simply shared an image privately with colleagues to ask if it was safe to go to work.
“Authorities have confirmed that they identified Sergey through active electronic surveillance, tracked him down, and asked him to attend a police station for what was described as a ‘chat’, where he was then arrested. This raises serious concerns about the monitoring of private communications and the treatment of ordinary residents as security threats.
“We are seeing a disturbing pattern where individuals who are effectively victims of regional instability are being criminalised for their reactions to it. This long-term Emirates employee is not a threat to national security. He is a loyal worker with no criminal history and someone who clearly meant no harm.
“Just last week, a British Emirates employee was released, but the consequences remain severe. Former detainees are not only recovering from the trauma of being in prison for several weeks, but many have also lost their jobs.
“It is deeply concerning that a split-second reaction in a frightening situation can lead to detention, loss of employment, and long-term restrictions on travel across the region.”
Stirling added that many residents and visitors would not have been aware of restrictions, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the incidents.
“The UAE government is pushing the narrative that ‘they should have known’. Why? This man had just returned to Dubai after being out of the country. His employer, state-owned Emirates Airlines, provided no guidance, and warnings were not widely circulated at the time. We are talking about the very early days of the situation.
“Dubai risks creating an environment where people are afraid to communicate even privately during emergencies. Treating residents like hardened criminals for momentary, human reactions is disproportionate and damaging.”
Detained in Dubai calls on Emirates Airlines to take an active role in assisting their staff members and for Dubai police to release prisoners who are clearly not a threat, warning that the continued detention of individuals under such circumstances raises serious concerns about due process and the application of cybercrime laws.
The organisation continues to receive reports of similar arrests linked to the sharing of images or information, including private communications, in the aftermath of recent attacks.
