British law student, 23, jailed for life in Dubai after making 'very stupid mistake'

A 23-year-old British law student has been jailed for life in Dubai after making a 'very stupid mistake'.

According to various reports, Mia O’Brien was being held in the central prison, which is notorious for once being dubbed 'Dubai’s version of Alcatraz', after allegedly being found with 50 grams of cocaine at an apartment in Dubai in October 2024.

Mia's mother, Danielle McKenna, says that the Liverpool University student was arrested alongside two other people - her friend and the friend's boyfriend.

All three were charged with drug dealing - with Mia pleading not guilty - before a judge convicted her after a one-day hearing earlier this summer (25 July). She's since been landed with the devastating sentence of 25 years behind bars as well as a staggering £100,000 fine.

And her mother has now opened up about the ordeal, which has left her 'absolutely devastated'.

Liverpool University law student, Mia O'Brien, has been jailed for life after allegedly being found with 50 grams of cocaine at an apartment in Dubai (Facebook)

The 46-year-old told the Daily Mail: "She pleaded not guilty - they don’t have a just trial over there. She was just given a life sentence and has to serve 25 years. The trial was all in Arabic, and Mia was told of the sentence later by her lawyer."

Danielle continued: "She is absolutely devastated by what has happened. Mia is being really strong, but I know she is going through a living hell."

The mother initially shared Mia's situation through a now-deleted GoFundMe page.

"Mia has been given a life sentence over in Dubai, and she is now in central prison," she wrote at the time. "As you can all probably imagine, as her mother, I am absolutely devastated.

"I haven’t seen my daughter since last October. Mia is only 23 years old and has never done a bad thing in her life."

The fundraiser went on: "This is a young girl, who went to university to do law, and unfortunately got mixed up in the wrong so-called friends and made a very stupid mistake and is now paying the price."

The GoFundMe page, which Danielle said was set up to be used to cover legal fees and travel costs, allowing Mia’s family to visit, was later deleted by the website for violating its guidelines.

The 23-year-old's mum, Danielle McKenna, has since opened up about the 'devastating' ordeal (Facebook)

A GoFundMe spokesperson said (via The Sun): "It was removed because it violates Term 9 of the Prohibited Conduct section in our Terms of Service. Term 9 prohibits raising funds on GoFundMe for the legal defence of certain alleged crimes."

In her latest update (7 September), Danielle has taken to Facebook to share her details online, allowing people to donate money directly to her bank.

She went on to tell the Daily Mail: "She’s going through it at the minute. She’s just been transferred to another prison after getting a life sentence. It’s been a massive shock. Mia said she has to sleep on a mattress on the floor and shares the cell with six others. The prison conditions are horrendous.

"There are no staff really, and she has to bang on a big door if she needs anything. She’s seen fights and said she has been really scared."

The United Arab Emirates is known to hand out life sentences for crimes like drug trafficking, serious violence, and terrorism.

Mia was reportedly being held in Dubai's central prison (GoFundMe)

Gov.uk explicitly warns British visitors: "There is zero tolerance for drug-related offences. The penalties for trafficking, smuggling, using and possessing illegal drugs (including residual amounts) are severe.

"Sentences for drug trafficking can include the death penalty. Possession of even the smallest amount of illegal drugs, including cannabis, can lead to a minimum 3-month prison term or a fine of between 20,000 UAE dirham (£4,000) and 100,000 UAE dirham (£20,000)."

The guidance continues: "The Emirati authorities count the presence of drugs in the bloodstream as possession. Some 'herbal highs' and products containing cannabidiol (CBD) are illegal in the UAE.

"Possessing, concealing or making transactions with money from drug-related offences is illegal. You could get a prison sentence and a fine.

"UAE airports have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items, including cannabis. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers. You can be arrested for carrying drugs, even residual amounts."