Man traumatised after arrest in Abu Dhabi for bad review

Craig Ballentine spoke to BBC News NI via a video call on Friday

A holidaymaker who has been detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after posting an negative Google review has said he has been traumatised by his ordeal.

Craig Ballentine, from Northern Ireland, was arrested in Abu Dhabi airport in October because he posted critical comments about his former employer in Dubai.

He has been accused of slander but the UAE's strict cybercrime laws mean there is a chance he could be jailed for the remarks he made in the online review.

The 33-year-old care worker, from Cookstown in County Tyrone, was released from custody but he cannot leave the UAE until the case against him is resolved.

"I came to Abu Dhabi/Dubai just to see friends and also to do a bit of scout volunteering," Mr Ballentine told BBC News NI in a video call.

"I wasn't expecting when I arrived at Abu Dhabi airport to be detained."

He said he was held from approximately 07:55 local time on the day of his arrest until about 01:00 the following morning, without being allowed any contact his family or friends.

Background to arrest

In 2023 Mr Ballentine got a job in a dog grooming salon in Dubai.

After working there for almost six months, he needed time off due to illness and so he gave his employer a doctor’s certificate as proof of his condition.

But when he did not show up for work, he was registered as “absconded” with the UAE authorities, which meant he could not leave the county.

Mr Ballentine later managed to get that travel ban lifted and he went home to Northern Ireland, but doing so took two months and cost him thousands of pounds.

While he was back in Northern Ireland, he wrote an online review of the dog grooming salon, outlining the problems his former boss had allegedly caused him.

He told BBC News NI his Google post "explained the ordeal that I went through".

In late October Mr Ballentine returned to the UAE for a short holiday, at which point he was immediately arrested for the alleged slander.

He was transferred from Abu Dhabi to Dubai where he now has wait until the case against him either goes to court or the charges are dropped.

Craig Ballentine had returned to Dubai to visit friends when he was arrested

Mr Ballentine's family have spoken of the panic and distress they faced when he did not get in touch for many hours after his plane landed, as he usually would.

"Everyone was trying to contact hospitals, police, immigration," he explained.

Eventually a local man gave him some phone credit to call home and let his family know he was alive.

"I'm very blessed for him," Mr Ballentine said.

Although he is no longer under arrest, he cannot go home because of his travel ban so is staying with a friend in Dubai until he is allowed to leave the UAE.

In the meantime he cannot work to earn money in the UEA, he cannot go home to his own job and he has no idea how long it might take for his case to be heard.

He told BBC News NI he was trying to stay positive and hopeful but he was finding the experience very difficult.

"A few days ago I went for a walk out around the complex and I could literally have just collapsed and cried," he said.

"It has just been very traumatising, it will probably take me quite a while to get over this."

'Just ludicrous'

Mr Ballentine's close friend Sean Morgan is among those who are leading the campaign to try to get home.

He described the case against him as "ridiculous".

"It's exceptional to think that you could be stuck in a county for 12 months over a Google review, which is just ludicrous in my opinion," Mr Morgan said.

Mr Morgan and other campaigners are being assisted by the advocacy organisation, Detained in Dubai.

On Friday morning, they hosted a live question and answer session on X, formerly known as Twitter, to raise awareness about the case.

Mr Morgan said it had been a stressful and anxious time for Mr Ballentine's friends and family.

"He’s trying his hardest just to stay positive," he added, but admitted his friend is sometimes in a sombre mood or scared of further arrest.

In addition, Mr Ballentine is "suffering the financial burden of being in Dubai and not able to work".

"There is only so much sitting around you can do," Mr Morgan added.

Sean Morgan (right) is part of the campaign to get Craig Ballentine home

Appeal to first minister

The campaigners appealed to Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill to intervene with the UAE authorities.

O'Neill is also an assembly member for the Mid Ulster constituency, which includes Mr Ballentine's home town of Cookstown.

"I haven't had any direct contact with her personally but I have been in contact with her office and she has sent letters to the UAE embassy," Mr Morgan said.

"So I'm hoping that with more of a push there will be a bit more progress made."

He added he was hoping that a meeting could be set up "so that something can be achieved very soon to get Craig out of there".

Mr Ballentine was travelling on a UK passport and campaigners have also asked the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to help get the travel ban rescinded.

Last week, an FCDO spokesperson said: “We are providing support to a British man in the UAE and have been in contact with the local authorities.”

BBC News NI has contacted the UAE government for comment.