Kerry Nwachukwu, a 44-year-old British businesswoman from London, was detained in Dubai over £19,000 in unpaid rent and shared a cell with murderers and drug dealers. She now faces possible rearrest despite a repayment plan, according to a report.
Detained in a Shopping Mall
Nwachukwu moved to Dubai in August 2022 with her son John, 25, to start a marketing agency after leaving her role as marketing director at Sotheby's. By late 2024, she entered a legal crisis over two Rental Dispute Centre cases, accruing £19,000 in arrears after more than £10,000 in client contracts went unpaid. Unable to renew her UAE business licence since January, her finances worsened due to the Middle East conflict.
On April 22, unaware of an arrest warrant, she was detained in a shopping mall after speaking to a rental clerk. She spent two weeks at Bur Dubai police station before being transferred to Al Awir Central Jail.
Prison Conditions and Dangerous Inmates
Nwachukwu described harsh conditions: no mattress initially, near-fights, and dangerous cellmates. She spent £3 on slippers to avoid walking on urine in toilets. 'I was put inside with people who've murdered people. I was in one cell with people who were selling drugs,' she said. 'How is that even possible? Just for not paying your rent, you are thrown into a horrible, horrible jail.'
She paid £3,000 for release in mid-May under a 15-month repayment plan after her son's repeated requests. But the same judge reversed that decision three weeks later, demanding repayment in 15 days. That period has expired, and she fears arrest at any moment.
Crowdfunder and Legal Risks
Her lawyer said raising £4,000 might convince the judge to cancel the arrest warrant, but it's not guaranteed. Friends and family launched a GoFundMe page for living costs and rent. However, GoFundMe is not authorised in Dubai, and using it could lead to further legal consequences. 'I may end up with another judgment against me, another prison sentence, just for my family helping me out,' she said.
Nwachukwu wants to return to the UK: 'If I had any means to literally pay the courts today, I'll be on a plane straight out of here. I would not even look back.' She is writing a book about her detention, warning of the dark side of Dubai's glitz and glamour.
