Dubai drops charges, deports Swedish woman who ‘insulted’ airport officials

A Swedish national who attempted to enter Dubai on an expired passport and later “insulted” airport officials was deported with all the charges dropped against her.

The Dubai Public Prosecution has completed investigations and closed the case, Esam Issa Al Humaidan, attorney general of Dubai said.

The incident started when Ellie Hollman arrived in Dubai airport with her daughter from London Gatwick Airport onboard an Emirates flight.

“She attempted to enter the country using a Swedish passport, which had already expired on June 10, 2018. She was advised by the immigration officer that she could not enter the country with an expired passport,” the Dubai Media Office said in a statement.

She then produced an Iranian passport, and was informed by the officer that she could enter the country by issuing a new temporary visa, which allowed a 96-hour stay, and had to change her departure flight according to the new visa.

Hollman “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”, the report added.

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

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”, the report added.

The child’s father received her immediately upon his arrival and they subsequently departed the country.

The prosecution decided to drop the charges against Ellie Hollman and to deport her instead.

UK media previously quoted Hollman as saying that she was detained in Dubai for drinking a glass of wine on a flight from London.