Man detained in Dubai on way home for Christmas

A holidaymaker from Northern Ireland who was detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after posting a negative Google review is on his way home for Christmas.

Craig Ballentine, from County Tyrone, was arrested in Abu Dhabi airport in October because he posted critical comments about his former employer in Dubai.

He was accused of slander, but the UAE's strict cybercrime laws meant that he also faced potential jail time for the remarks he made in the online review.

The 33-year-old spoke to BBC News NI before his flight was due to leave Dubai on Thursday and he confirmed that his travel ban had been lifted.

He said: "Reality hasn't really kicked in yet. Once I return back and I see Dublin outside the plane window that's when I will be relieved. It has been an exhausting journey for both myself, family and friends.

"It's coming up to Christmas so now I hope to return and rest for a day or two then get prepared to enjoy the festivities."

The Cookstown man has already paid a fine but said he may have to return to Dubai at the end of January for a further court hearing.

There were interventions from a number of politicians to highlight Mr Ballentine's case, including Stormont First Minister Michelle O'Neill, former UUP leader Sir Reg Empey and Mid Ulster councillor Trevor Wilson.

Mr Ballentine had previously told BBC News NI that all he wanted was to get home for Christmas to his family

In 2023, Mr Ballentine got a job in a dog grooming salon in Dubai.

After working there for almost six months, he needed time off due to illness and so he gave his employer a doctor's certificate as proof of his condition.

But when he did not show up for work, he was registered as "absconded" with the UAE authorities, which meant he could not leave the country.

Mr Ballentine later managed to get that travel ban lifted and went home to Northern Ireland, but doing so took two months and cost him thousands of pounds.

While he was back in Northern Ireland, he wrote an online review of the dog grooming salon, outlining the problems his former boss had allegedly caused him.

He told BBC News NI his Google post "explained the ordeal that I went through".

In late October, Mr Ballentine returned to the UAE for a short holiday, at which point he was immediately arrested for the alleged slander.

He was transferred from Abu Dhabi to Dubai where he had to await the outcome of the case.

Mr Ballentine is expected to arrive at Dublin airport on Friday morning.