A British mother is facing potential indefinite jail time in Dubai after accumulating approximately £22,000 in unpaid rent. Kerry Nwachukwu, 44, who moved to Dubai in August 2022 with her adult son seeking better opportunities, claims her dream of a new life devolved into a "horror movie" due to financial difficulties and the subsequent legal repercussions.
Nwachukwu stated she encountered financial problems after leaving her marketing job in 2023, alleging she did not receive her full salary. She pursued the owed wages through a UAE court, which awarded her £8,125 after eight months. Concurrently, she established her own marketing agency, but client non-payment led to further financial strain, leaving her £10,000 out of pocket and struggling with rent.
Arrest and Imprisonment
Following a court case initiated by her landlord at the Rental Disputes Center (RDC), Nwachukwu was arrested on April 22, 2026, for the accumulated debt. She reported being imprisoned for three weeks, describing the experience as being "treated like a criminal" and enduring a strip search upon arrival. She was initially held in a police station before being transferred to Central Jail, which she described as "ten times worse" and a "horrible place" marked by frequent altercations.
Her son reportedly intervened to secure her release on May 15, 2026, and helped establish a repayment plan. However, Nwachukwu claims this plan was drastically altered, reducing the repayment period to 15 days for the remaining £19,000, a situation she describes as "shocked and heartbroken."
Legal Concerns and Current Situation
Nwachukwu's lawyer has reportedly warned her that she could face "indefinite" jail time until the debt is repaid, as financial cases in Dubai can lead to prolonged imprisonment without a clear exit if the funds are not cleared. She has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise the outstanding amount.
She expressed dismay at being "criminalized for something like that, especially rent," stating that the justice system made it impossible to resolve the situation. Nwachukwu claims she is currently under house arrest and is only managing to pay small portions of the debt with funds raised and limited personal resources. She is seeking to return to the UK and is speaking out to highlight what she perceives as the "dark side" of living in Dubai, warning others that legal protections taken for granted in the UK may not exist there, and a civil dispute can escalate to indefinite jail sentences. MIA1: