British Grandfather Faces Jail in Dubai After Business Collapse

Simon Ferguson, a 64-year-old British grandfather from North Wales, is stranded in Dubai with mounting debts and visa overstay fines after his business collapsed. He is reportedly sleeping on a sofa in a shared flat with six women and 33 rescue cats, borrowing money for food and relying on donations from his ex-wife and former girlfriend.

Ferguson revealed he is considering handing himself in to immigration officials in the hope of being deported back to Britain, but fears he could be imprisoned instead. "I don't want to do that, but if it's the only way out, I can't sit here in this environment, living the way I'm living, having to beg money off people," he stated.

He has lived in the United Arab Emirates for about 20 years, previously working with Emirates Airlines before founding Aviation Assets Middle East, a company that assists airlines with aircraft transactions and sourcing parts. His business began to struggle, and a series of health issues further impacted his ability to work, leading to the exhaustion of his savings.

His passport was seized as part of court proceedings related to company debts. Without his passport, Ferguson cannot obtain a new visa, which prevents him from getting a UAE identity card, opening a bank account, or legally working. This has left him unable to rebuild his finances or leave the country.

While a GoFundMe appeal initially provided some relief, the funds became inaccessible due to his daughter's bank account being closed. He had previously been offered an apartment through friends of his daughter but had to move out after three months.

Ferguson is currently trying to secure remote work using aviation contacts to broker aircraft and components, a pursuit that has yielded no results in the past six to seven months. He is awaiting the outcome of two potential opportunities: a brokerage deal and an investor. He has also consulted lawyers about his debts and fines but cannot afford their fees.

He described the ordeal as taking a heavy toll on his mental health, admitting, "There are some days when it just overwhelms. I'm stuck. It gets very, very dark." He has made promises to his children not to do anything drastic, acknowledging that any such actions would hurt them more than himself.

If his current business pursuits fail, Ferguson plans to go to the airport, where immigration services are located, and surrender himself. His children continue to support him from afar, though they have not been able to visit him recently.