U.S. Army veteran Robert Dobbs has been stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for five years due to a "fabricated claim" that he owes money to his former employer, according to Detained in Dubai, an organization working to secure his release.
Dobbs, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has been detained and even beaten by local law enforcement over the alleged debt of $100,000 to the Providence English Private School. However, Dobbs claims that he is unable to pay off the debt because the school will not renew his work visa or allow him to leave the country and work elsewhere.
Dobbs, a father of five, moved to Dubai in 2013 with his wife and blended family to teach after the U.S. economy slowed down. He initially worked at a different school for a year before joining the Providence English Private School, where he eventually became the head of his department. When his contract ended in 2018, the school refused to pay his end-of-service benefit and refused to release him from his visa.
In order to leave the UAE, a person's visa must be canceled by their sponsor, according to the UAE government website. The U.S. State Department also warns that the UAE maintains tight exit controls and travelers may be denied entry or departure if previous visas have not been properly canceled.
Dobbs filed a lawsuit against the Providence English Private School over the unpaid benefits and won, with a UAE judge ordering the school to pay. However, the school retaliated by filing a civil suit against Dobbs, claiming that he owed $100,000 in tuition for his four children who attended the school while he worked there. Dobbs maintains that the tuition fees were included in his employment contract and that the civil suit against him is unfounded and retaliatory. Despite winning his case, Dobbs was unable to argue his case in court due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was never informed of a new court date.
Dobbs attempted to appeal the matter to local officials but found it futile. He described his attempts to speak with Sharjah officials as "speaking to a brick wall." Radha Stirling, the CEO of Detained in Dubai, stated that Dobbs has reached out to U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin's office and the State Department for assistance. Stirling is urging U.S. diplomats to secure Dobbs' release, warning that without diplomatic efforts, Dobbs may die in Dubai. Dobbs' family, who were able to return to the U.S. in 2020, has criticized the lack of intervention from the U.S. government, stating that they have reached out to various officials who have let them down.
The UAE legal system has been criticized for being easy to abuse, with cases like Dobbs' being all too common, according to Stirling. People who are unable to leave the country or work for themselves due to open police or civil cases often rely on charity and may suffer from malnutrition or lack of medical treatment. Dobbs fears that he will die in the UAE, citing the death of his friend Robin Berlyn, who died trying to escape similar circumstances 18 months ago.
The State Department has acknowledged Dobbs' situation and stated that they are providing him with appropriate consular assistance. However, it remains unclear what actions have been taken to secure Dobbs' release. Dobbs, who constantly feels the need to look over his shoulder, relies on his military training and mental strength to survive in his current situation.
As Dobbs continues to be stranded in the UAE, his case highlights the challenges faced by individuals caught in legal disputes abroad and the need for diplomatic intervention to ensure their rights and safety.
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