A British student from Huyton, Merseyside, Mia O’Brien, was sentenced to 25 years in a Dubai prison after being arrested for drug-related charges in October 2024. Her family has described her return home as a “Christmas miracle.”
Mia, a 24-year-old law student, was found with 50 grams of cocaine, valued at around £2,500 in the UK, during a party while on holiday in Dubai. Despite pleading not guilty, she was convicted of drug supply and possession charges on July 25 and received a life sentence along with a fine of approximately £100,000.
However, Mia was released earlier this month and made it back home in time for Christmas. Her mother, Dannielle McKenna, confirmed the news through a video posted on Christmas Day titled “She’s Home,” expressing it as the “best Christmas ever.”
Initially facing a life sentence, Mia was set to appeal her case in September but was informed recently of her release. Her mother shared the joy on Facebook on December 3, expressing excitement about her daughter’s return and thanking everyone for their support.
During her time at Al-Awir Central Prison in Dubai, known as Dubai’s Alcatraz, Mia shared a cell with six other women and slept on a mattress on the floor. Ms. McKenna mentioned that Mia was enduring a challenging situation but was showing strength.
The trial leading to Mia’s sentencing was conducted in Arabic in just one day, as reported by the campaign group Detained in Dubai. The group’s founder, Radha Stirling, highlighted concerns about the legal procedures in Dubai and urged the public to consider the possibility of miscarriages of justice in Mia’s case.