Inside the ‘horrendous’ Dubai prison where 23-year-old Liverpool student faces life for drugs

A 23-year-old former University of Liverpool student has been served a life sentence in the United Arab Emirates following Class A drug charges.

Mia O’Brien, of Huyton in Liverpool, has been jailed in Dubai Central Prison for 25 years after being found possessing 50 grams of cocaine in an apartment in Dubai last October.

The student is now sharing a cell “with six others” and “has to sleep on a mattress on the floor” in the jail renowned for overcrowding, violent attacks, and substandard conditions.

Her mum, Danielle McKenna, has spoken out about the “living hell” her daughter is now facing due to a “stupid mistake” made on a trip with her boyfriend.

Here’s everything we know so far about the prison the 23-year-old Liverpool student is being held in.

The ‘prison conditions are horrendous’

via Google Maps

Mia O’Brien’s mum has shared an insight into the 23-year-old’s living conditions in Dubai Central Prison, also known as Al-Awir Central Prison.

The jail consists of four main blocks which separate male, female and juvenile prisoners, including men who have been sentenced for either under or over six months, respectively.

There are also designated smoking and non-smoking blocks for prisoners, according to GOV UK.

Although it is currently unknown which block or area Mia O’Brien is currently in, her mother has labelled it a “living hell” as “the prison conditions are horrendous”.

Each block has access to a television, and each prisoner is provided with a mattress, blanket and pillow.

Mia’s mum said her daughter “has to sleep on a mattress on the floor” and has restricted privacy as she shares a cell “with six others”.

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Danielle also added: “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’

It has been reported that Dubai Central Prison is notorious for violent behaviour, attacks, and even prisoners being tortured into confessing their crimes.

The prison has been dubbed “the Alcatraz of Dubai” and relatives of inmates at Al-Awir have also claimed that prisoners have been forced to sign documents in Arabic at gunpoint. Dubai’s prison system and government deny all the claims.

Mia O’Brien’s mum has claimed “she’s seen fights” amongst fellow prisoners since her incarceration.

She said although Mia “is being really strong” she is experiencing “a living hell” in the jail, and has reported being “really scared” during her short time there.

Despite the former law student’s stressful and shocking conditions, “she’s not been ill – she has just come out in a few rashes” her mum has claimed.

‘She hopes that she might get sent back to serve her sentence here’

via GoFundMe

Mia is currently facing a 25 year life sentence in the United Arab Emirates. The Liverpool student is currently in prison, despite her family’s pleas to raise funds for legal costs.

She was arrested by local authorities following a discovery of 50 grams of cocaine, a Class A drug with a street value of £2,500 back in the UK.

There have been no updates on the likelihood of parole or extradition for the student’s case, but her mum claims “she hopes she might get sent back” to the UK to “serve her sentence” under different laws.

Life sentences for drug trafficking cases in the United Arab Emirates are not uncommon – and can result in the death penalty in extreme cases. A life sentence in Dubai typically spans between 15 and 25 years of imprisonment.

Featured image via Facebook and Canva