Scots grandad unable to leave Dubai over party row

A grandfather from Aberdeenshire is unable to leave Dubai following a row with neighbours over a Hogmanay party.

Ian Mackellar, 74, and his wife, of Newtonhill, had been visiting their daughter and young granddaughter in the United Arab Emirates when he went to complain about music noise.

However he was then reported to the police, accused of trespassing. The ongoing investigation means he is not allowed to leave the country.

His anxious wife Carol, 71, told BBC Scotland News: "We have no idea when Ian will be allowed to come home. The family are all very distressed."

The Foreign Office has said it is providing assistance.

Mrs Mackellar is hoping the authorities in Dubai will look on the case "favourably", as there had been "no evil intent" in what happened.

She said they had travelled over last month to help their daughter settle in the country.

However things turned sour when Mr Mackellar went to ask neighbours to turn down music on the night of 31 December as family members were trying to sleep.

"The music was like being in a nightclub several doors down, it was bouncing," Mrs Mackellar said.

She said her husband went to have a "neighbour-to-neighbour" chat to ask them to turn it down a bit.

But she said some people became "aggressive", and that one person threw a drink.

Mrs Mackellar said the police then came to their door two days later and informed them of the trespass complaint.

Mrs Mackellar has now returned home, in time for a hospital appointment she had.

She said her husband also had health worries, including a heart issue.

"I am very worried about his state of health and mind," she said. "He's very stressed, and he's worried about me."

She said what had happened was all over "something so insignificant".

"He's such a placid man," she said. "He's a devoted dad and husband.

"We have been married for 49 years and have never really been apart. I just want him home."

Detained in Dubai is an organisation which aims to help foreigners abroad.

Lawyer and Detained in Dubai chief executive Radha Stirling told BBC Scotland there were fears Mr Mackellar could ultimately face two years or more in jail.

"He definitely faces lengthy incarceration," she said.

“This is a very sad situation. Nobody would ever imagine that a polite request to turn the music down would result in a travel ban and criminal prosecution."

She explained: "Certainly in other cases we've seen MPs in Scotland get involved with diplomatic support and even arranging meetings with the UAE's ambassador to the UK.

"And in all of these cases that sort of support at the MP level motivates the FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) to become involved, and also they can reach out and speak to their counterparts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE and highlight the absurdity of this case."

A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed: “We are providing consular assistance to a British man in Dubai.”

The Government of Dubai Media Office has been approached for comment.