DUBAI,—A 32-year-old British flight attendant employed by Emirates Airlines has been held in custody in Dubai for more than a month after sharing a photograph privately through WhatsApp with coworkers, according to Detained in Dubai, an advocacy group that works on behalf of foreign nationals held in the United Arab Emirates.

The man was arrested in the early hours of March 8 and is currently being held at Al Qusais Police Station.

His family fears authorities may transfer him to Abu Dhabi, where sentences for convicted individuals tend to be longer and detention periods more extended.

Detained in Dubai confirmed the arrest was made under UAE federal cybercrime legislation following the sharing of an image connected to recent regional attacks.

Authorities told the organization the suspect was identified through what they described as active electronic surveillance.

The family told the organization the man had recently returned to Dubai after being stranded abroad due to flight disruptions and had not been informed of any official warnings or restrictions on sharing images or information related to the attacks.

In the early hours of March 7, after being woken by a loud explosion and feeling his apartment shake, the flight attendant took a single photograph on his mobile phone and sent it privately to colleagues via WhatsApp, asking whether it was safe to travel to work.

He did not share the image publicly. Others who received the message later forwarded it.

Despite this, he faces charges related to state security and public order.

Radha Stirling, chief executive of Detained in Dubai, said on a statement on X that authorities confirmed they tracked the individual, identified in reports as Sergey, through active electronic surveillance before asking him to attend a police station for what was described as a routine conversation. He was arrested upon arrival.

“He was reacting to what he believed was a dangerous situation,” Stirling said.

“He had just arrived back in the country, had not seen any warnings, and simply shared an image privately with colleagues to ask if it was safe to go to work.”

Stirling said the case raised serious concerns about the monitoring of private communications and the targeting of ordinary residents as security threats.

She noted that a British Emirates employee was released the previous week but said former detainees faced severe consequences, including job losses and lasting trauma from weeks spent in custody.

Detained in Dubai said it continued to receive reports of similar arrests linked to the private sharing of images or information following the recent attacks.

The organization called on Emirates Airlines, which is state-owned, to provide active support to affected staff members and urged Dubai police to release detainees who present no credible threat.

“Dubai risks creating an environment where people are afraid to communicate even privately during emergencies,” Stirling said.

“Treating residents like hardened criminals for momentary, human reactions is disproportionate and damaging.” She added.

(With files from Detained in Dubai)

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