Craig Ballentine. ARCHIVE

A former dog grooming employee in Dubai is facing a legal battle in the UAE for posting a negative Google review against his employer. Craig Ballentine said he was sentenced to a fine and a social media ban, but the prosecution has appealed the verdict to push for a tougher sentence. The next court hearing is scheduled in February. Ballentine said his hopes of coming home for the holidays “collapsed” after he received information on Monday (December 10) that the hearing has been pushed back for a couple of months. Arrested in October while transiting through Abu Dhabi, the 33-year-old from Cookstown in Northern Ireland faces charges of slander under the UAE’s anti-cybercrime law. His troubles began after he took a leave of absence from work due to a health issue. He said he notified his employer and provided a doctor’s note but that his employer reported him as “absconded”, which led to his dismissal and subsequent travel ban. He was able to return to Northern Ireland after spending “thousands of pounds” to lift the travel ban. After returning to Northern Ireland, he posted a negative Google review criticizing the dog grooming business, naming the manager and detailing the issues he faced at work. When Ballentine returned to the UAE on holiday in October, he was detained in Abu Dhabi and transferred to Dubai, where he now faces charges of slander. Under UAE law, defamatory statements made online can lead to penalties ranging from fines of Dh100,000 to Dh500,000 or up to two years in prison. This is not the first time that individuals have gotten in trouble in the UAE for writing defamatory comments on social media. In July, a salon manager recounted to Expat Media how Dubai Police helped her settle an incident with a client who made a malicious Google review that named and shamed her and the salon services. Dubai authorities have consistently emphasized that honest reviews should avoid exaggerated claims or offensive language, as these may lead to legal consequences The UAE’s cybercrime law emphasizes resolving disputes through official channels rather than public forums. Dubai authorities have emphasized that honest reviews should avoid exaggerated claims or offensive language, as these may lead to legal consequences. ICA/Expat Media
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