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Missiles and drones fired from Iran have been raining down on Brits stranded in the United Arab Emirates.
19:17, Tue, Mar 10, 2026 Updated: 19:22, Tue, Mar 10, 2026
A British man has been arrested in Dubai for 'filming missiles' (Image: Getty)
A British tourist is said to have been arrested in Dubai for filming Iranian missiles heading towards the country, it has been claimed. The campaign group Detained in Dubai said a 60-year-old man from London was understood to have been on holiday in the emirate when he was taken into custody on Monday.
According to reports, the man is being held at a police station in the Bur Dubai area of the Middle Eastern nation, which has long been a popular British ex-pat and holiday destination. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is famous for its sun-kissed tax-free lifestyle. But the tiny nation has been under almost constant missile and drone bombardment from Iran after the US and Israel launched air strikes against the hardline Islamic Republic on February 28.
It's understood the British national has not been charged as yet, but he could face up to two years in prison or a heavy fine of up to £58,000, if convicted under Dubai's strict cybercrime laws. Sharing missile strike locations and footage of countermeasures launched to intercept them online can potentially lead to hostile forces being able to increase accuracy of strikes.
Aerial images showing smoke rising from Dubai port (Image: Getty)
In the past 48 hours the UAE authorities issued alerts to residents through the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority which sent text alerts to mobile phones.
In advice shared to residents and travellers, the UAE said people should "prioritise safety over filming: Do not record videos or post content on social media during alerts. Follow official instructions immediately".
It also warned people to "avoid spreading rumours" and "not share unverified information online".
According to the Mail Online, Campaign group Detained in Dubai, which provides assistance with UAE law globally, has confirmed it is assisting the family of the Briton being held in Dubai.
CEO Radha Stirling said: "Everyone's got their phone and their camera out. People are just being a bit negligent."
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Damage from rockets to a hotel complex in Dubai (Image: Getty)
Some 45,000 UK nationals are estimated to have left the region since March 1, out of the more than 200,000 thought to be in the Gulf at the start of the war.
A second charter flight carrying British nationals home has taken off from Dubai, the Foreign Office has said.
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The plane was chartered to allow those who could not get seats on commercial flights, and particularly vulnerable people, to access a safe route back to the UK more quickly.
There was a charge for the flight. Increasing numbers of commercial flights leaving the Gulf have become available in recent days, with 32 landing in the UK on Monday.
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