From Dream to Nightmare: British Woman’s Dubai Escape Traps Her in Jail Over Unpaid Rent Scandal
Ever thought moving to Dubai for a brighter future could land you behind bars over unpaid rent? Well, that’s exactly the nightmare British marketing consultant Kerry Nwachukwu found herself in after racking up a staggering £22,000 in rental debts. Fleeing to the glitzy city with her adult son back in 2022, Kerry’s dream quickly unraveled when her employer failed to pay her, forcing her to quit and start her own business. But when clients stopped paying invoices, she was left thousands short and unable to keep up with rent. Arrested in a shopping mall and jailed for three weeks, Kerry now faces the chilling possibility of indefinite jail time unless she settles the debt — all while under house arrest and scraping by on a GoFundMe campaign she started. It begs the question: can chasing success in a foreign land sometimes come with unforeseen—and costly—traps? LEARN MORE
A British businesswoman who moved to Dubai for a better life was thrown in jail over £22,000 worth of unpaid rent.
Marketing consultant Kerry Nwachukwu and her adult son faced challenges from the very beginning of their move to Dubai in August 2022.
The 44-year-old from Northumberland claims her employer wasn’t paying her salary, which forced her to quit her job in 2023.
Kerry attempted to claim the unpaid cash through a UAE court and it took eight months to be awarded £8,125.
During that time, she started her own marketing business but ran into trouble when many of her clients weren’t paying their invoices.
She was left £10,000 out of pocket and was only able to afford some rental payments.
After racking up £22,000 in rental bills, her landlord won a case at the Rental Disputes Center (RDC) in April 2026.
Marketing consultant Kerry Nwachukwu moved to Dubai with her adult son in 2022 (Kennedy News and Media)
She was arrested in a shopping mall on April 22 and was put in jail for three weeks over the unpaid rent.
On 15 May, she was released from jail after her adult son helped set up a 15-month repayment plan, before it was reduced to 15 days.
Her lawyer has warned that she faces ‘indefinite’ jail time until she’s repaid the debt, so has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise funds.
After being released from prison, she claims she paid a £3,000 instalment before being told she only had 15 days to pay the outstanding £19,000 debt and is now under house arrest.
Kerry is now on house arrest (Kennedy News and Media)
Kerry said: “I was stopped by a young lad [at the mall] and he flashed an ID badge, which I could see said ‘police’ on it. In that moment I just thought ‘okay, I give up’.
“You can’t run anywhere, I knew I had a travel ban and everything. I was terrified but I was trying not to be emotional.It feels like I’m in a horror movie.
“I don’t feel like a criminal but I’m being treated like a criminal, I had such a good career in the UK and UAE.
“I’ve always done everything to live in a respectful way towards the law. I didn’t deliberately go out to end up in a situation, it happens.
Kerry’s lawyer says she could face ‘indefinite’ jail time if the debts aren’t paid (Kennedy News and Media)
“To criminalise people for something like that, especially rent, is just heartbreaking and the justice system makes it impossible to fix the situation.”
Kerry hopes the GoFundMe page will help her to pay for the outstanding £19,000 she owes.
“I asked my lawyer what happens if I don’t pay. He said ‘you’re just in there until you pay, they’ll never let you go especially with money cases’,” she added.
“There’s no room for movement or hardworking people.
“I’m on my last pennies. I’ve raised a bit from GoFundMe and I’m paying a little bit here and there and buying food but that’s it.
“I’m not going anywhere because I’m under house arrest so I haven’t got many costs.”
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