UK Students in Dubai Mistaken as Wealthy Footballers Fooled for Money
In a city whose economy largely relies on tourists, most of the visiting Britons in Dubai have become victim to the harsh rules of the Emirate. Recently, two university students from UK witnessed the reality of Dubai, which remains covered from majority of the world.
James Dua-Wiafi and Stanley Kundishora were mistaken for Premier League footballers, and have been stranded in the city from over two months, following a misunderstanding over renting a Range Rover worth £100,000.
In August, the two Britons visited Dubai to celebrate their joint 21st birthday with a group of friends. The trip that was meant to be memorable for the two, became one of their worst nightmares. Dua-Wiafi and Kundishora had hired a luxury, which was reportedly damaged. However, the two travellers had expected it of getting covered by insurance, which didn’t happen.
Instead, the two Britons became victims of a scam, where the Dubai rental authorities are extorting £16,000 from them, assuming the boys of having wealthy backgrounds. In a city that detains travelers over pettiest crimes, both the boys indulged in a heated exchange regarding the amount and a confiscated passport.
Following that, a complaint was filed against the two Britons in Dubai by the car company, where they are barred from leaving the Gulf state until they pay an extra £30,000. Dua-Wiafi and Kundishora are third year undergraduates from Canterbury, who are being supported by the organization, Detained in Dubai.
As they remain stranded in Dubai, the two are desperate to return to their home country and also fear that the situation could harm their degrees. “The whole trip has been a complete nightmare. They just said we are footballers and rich and have rich families so we can pay the money,” said Dua-Wiafi.
For a luxury trip to Dubai, the two Britons and their friends saved for months to pay for it. They had pre-booked a £100,000 Range Rover SVR with a Dubai luxury car rental agency, for which they were asked to pay the insurance excess of £1,000, after it was damaged in Dubai Marina. However, the agency’s website states that the insurance charges are included in daily rental.
The case has been taken up by the British embassy and Detained in Dubai. However, it isn’t the first time that Britons in Dubai have fallen into a troublesome situation, after visiting the city for memorable times.
