On a July morning in 2022, Dinesh Mahtani, a U.K. national and former United Nations sanctions investigator, arrived at the Dubai International Airport for a brief scuba diving expedition with a friend, before jetting off to India to see his parents. He never left the airport.
Over the next several hours, Mahtani was questioned by Emirati immigration authorities, and then expelled from the country, he recalled, with a vague explanation that the denial of his entry into the country had something to do with security. A subsequent inquiry by the U.K. consulate established that he wasn’t wanted for any crimes.
“After being notified by Mr Mahtani of his concerns, [the Foreign & Commonwealth Office] confirmed with UAE authorities that there is no police or legal case against him and informed him of this,” a U.K. government spokesperson told Devex in a text message.
About the author
Colum Lynch
Colum Lynch is an award-winning reporter and Senior Global Reporter for Devex. He covers the intersection of development, diplomacy, and humanitarian relief at the United Nations and beyond. Prior to Devex, Colum reported on foreign policy and national security for Foreign Policy Magazine and the Washington Post. Colum was awarded the 2011 National Magazine Award for digital reporting for his blog Turtle Bay. He has also won an award for groundbreaking reporting on the U.N.’s failure to protect civilians in Darfur.
