A British flight attendant is among dozens of UK nationals facing jail in the United Arab Emirates after sharing images linked to recent Iranian drone and missile attacks, as authorities clamp down on what they describe as “cyber crimes” during a period of heightened regional tensions, as per a report by The Daily Mail.
According to the Mail, the 25-year-old cabin crew member was arrested after posting a photograph of a drone strike near Dubai Airport in a private WhatsApp group, asking colleagues: “Is it safe to walk through the airport?” The report says he now faces up to two years in prison under strict UAE laws governing the sharing of sensitive security-related material.
The case comes as Gulf states reel from a wave of Iranian strikes targeting energy and industrial infrastructure, following US and Israeli attacks on Iran that began in late February. The escalation has seen repeated drone and missile salvos across the region, with civilian facilities increasingly affected.
The Daily Mail reported that around 70 Britons are currently detained in the UAE over similar allegations, with the total number of people held believed to be at least 160. Among them is a 60-year-old tourist from London who was arrested after taking a photograph of an air strike, despite reportedly deleting the image when instructed by a police officer.
UAE authorities have warned both residents and visitors against photographing, filming or sharing images of attack sites or damage. Offenders face a minimum of one year in prison and fines starting at £20,000, with harsher penalties of up to two years and £40,000 for cases deemed to incite panic or threaten national security, as per the Mail.
The crackdown follows a series of attacks across the Gulf. In the UAE, officials confirmed fires at the Borouge petrochemical plant in Ruwais after debris from intercepted missiles fell on the facility, forcing a suspension of operations. No injuries were reported. Similar incidents were recorded in Bahrain, where a drone strike caused a storage tank fire, and in Kuwait, where power and desalination plants suffered significant damage.
Iran has said it is targeting industrial and military-linked infrastructure in response to what it claims is regional support for US operations, accusations strongly denied by Gulf governments.
