UPDATE: A British law student, Mia O’Brien, has been released from a Dubai prison just in time for a heartfelt Christmas reunion with her family. The 24-year-old was sentenced to 25 years after being convicted of drug charges related to 50g of cocaine found at a party in October 2024.
O’Brien’s release comes after significant campaigning from her family and support from the organization Detained in Dubai. Her mother, Danielle McKenna, announced the joyous news on social media early on Christmas Day, sharing a video montage titled “She’s Home,” where she expressed her overwhelming relief and happiness, stating: “It’s like a Christmas miracle, best Christmas ever.”
O’Brien was arrested when police stormed a Dubai flat during a party, discovering the cocaine, valued at approximately £2,500. Following a one-day trial conducted in Arabic, she was convicted of drug possession and supply on July 25, 2025, despite pleading not guilty. The harsh sentence drew international attention and criticism regarding the fairness of her trial.
Her mother previously expressed her shock and gratitude as news of O’Brien’s impending release became public, saying, “Thank you so much everyone, am still in shock, am buzzing, can’t wait to give her the tightest cuddle ever.”
Friends and supporters flooded social media with congratulatory messages, calling her release an incredible Christmas gift. One friend commented, “What an Xmas present – your daughter coming home.” Another added, “So glad she’s coming home. Absolute travesty that poor lassie has had to go through.”
The exact circumstances of O’Brien’s release remain unclear, but her family received assistance from the UK Foreign Office. In previous statements, campaigners highlighted the rushed legal proceedings and lack of due process in Dubai’s justice system. Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai, emphasized the serious implications of O’Brien’s case, noting that it reflects a troubling pattern of miscarriages of justice in the region.
O’Brien’s case garnered widespread media coverage, revealing the harsh realities faced by detainees in Dubai’s notorious Al-Awir Central Prison, often referred to as Dubai’s Alcatraz. Reports described the prison conditions as dire, with O’Brien reportedly sharing an overcrowded, filthy cell.
As O’Brien returns to her family in Huyton, Merseyside, her story serves as a reminder of the complexities and risks associated with international drug laws. The world watches closely as her family reunites, hoping that this Christmas miracle marks the beginning of a brighter chapter for Mia O’Brien.
The case raises urgent questions around the integrity of legal proceedings in Dubai and the treatment of foreign nationals. As the impact of O’Brien’s release continues to unfold, the public remains engaged, eager for updates and future developments.
