A British Bollywood actress claims she was detained in Dubai for two months after she threatened to post about a friend on social media.
Sofia Hayat, 39, who has starred Waterloo Road and in the Indian version of Big Brother, was on a week long trip when she got in trouble.
She fell out with someone she claims borrowed money from her - and she threatened to out them on Instagram, she said.
She thought nothing of it until she tried to get on a flight - when her passport was seized by police who put her in a cell for six hours, questioning her for a further six hours, she claims.
Sofia had unknowingly broken strict laws around posting defamatory comments on social media.
Told to stay in Dubai - and without her passport - she was forced to rent AirBnbs in Dubai for two months.
Sofia from Battersea, London, was finally allowed home without a fine or imprisonment after she was brought before a judge, she says.
But she claims her extended stay cost her £20,000 - and she lost a further £20,000 of business as a spiritual healer while she was away.
Speaking now she is back in the UK, Sofia said: "Dubai is actually a hell hole.
"I expected a modern country full of glamour, wealth and all the amazing things it appears to be on Instagram and TikTok.
"That's all a lie.
"I'll never go back.
"Being held like that is horrible. I was heartbroken and it was extremely lonely.
"I was constantly cancelling clients because I couldn't go home and worried all the time that I'd lose them.
"I couldn't book a long-term place to stay because I had no idea how long I'd have to be there.
"I was having trouble sleeping.
"I had no idea I'd committed a crime until I contacted the public prosecutor.
"I just wanted to go home."
Sofia flew to Dubai on December 28 last year from London - and was due to be there for seven days.
She fought with a friend who she claims borrowed money from her - and threatened to post about it on social media, she said.
So instead of seeing out the rest of her trip in Dubai, she tried to go to Saudi Arabia to spend New Year's Eve with a friend.
But at Dubai International Airport her passport was taken and she was held by police from 3am to 3pm, being questioned by up to five officers, she said.
The cell she was in was "freezing, dirty, and small", she said.
Her phone was taken and she wasn't allowed to call anyone - but after six hours she was allowed to text a friend, she claims.
"They just threw me in a cell - they didn't tell me anything," she said.
"When I asked what was going on, the policeman just told me to 'shut up'.
"At first I was having panic attacks. I was shaking and crying as they questioned me.
"They kept saying I'd threatened to expose a sex tape.
"I threatened to expose a name.
"In the end they did let me go, but I wasn't allowed to leave the country.
"Eventually I coped by meditating - I just imagined myself in London laughing about being detained in Dubai."
Sofia Hayat, 39, who has starred Waterloo Road and in the Indian version of Big Brother, was on a week long trip when she got in trouble.
She fell out with someone she claims borrowed money from her - and she threatened to out them on Instagram, she said.
She thought nothing of it until she tried to get on a flight - when her passport was seized by police who put her in a cell for six hours, questioning her for a further six hours, she claims.
Sofia had unknowingly broken strict laws around posting defamatory comments on social media.
Told to stay in Dubai - and without her passport - she was forced to rent AirBnbs in Dubai for two months.
Sofia from Battersea, London, was finally allowed home without a fine or imprisonment after she was brought before a judge, she says.
But she claims her extended stay cost her £20,000 - and she lost a further £20,000 of business as a spiritual healer while she was away.
Speaking now she is back in the UK, Sofia said: "Dubai is actually a hell hole.
"I expected a modern country full of glamour, wealth and all the amazing things it appears to be on Instagram and TikTok.
"That's all a lie.
"I'll never go back.
"Being held like that is horrible. I was heartbroken and it was extremely lonely.
"I was constantly cancelling clients because I couldn't go home and worried all the time that I'd lose them.
"I couldn't book a long-term place to stay because I had no idea how long I'd have to be there.
"I was having trouble sleeping.
"I had no idea I'd committed a crime until I contacted the public prosecutor.
"I just wanted to go home."
Sofia flew to Dubai on December 28 last year from London - and was due to be there for seven days.
She fought with a friend who she claims borrowed money from her - and threatened to post about it on social media, she said.
So instead of seeing out the rest of her trip in Dubai, she tried to go to Saudi Arabia to spend New Year's Eve with a friend.
But at Dubai International Airport her passport was taken and she was held by police from 3am to 3pm, being questioned by up to five officers, she said.
The cell she was in was "freezing, dirty, and small", she said.
Her phone was taken and she wasn't allowed to call anyone - but after six hours she was allowed to text a friend, she claims.
"They just threw me in a cell - they didn't tell me anything," she said.
"When I asked what was going on, the policeman just told me to 'shut up'.
"At first I was having panic attacks. I was shaking and crying as they questioned me.
"They kept saying I'd threatened to expose a sex tape.
"I threatened to expose a name.
"In the end they did let me go, but I wasn't allowed to leave the country.
"Eventually I coped by meditating - I just imagined myself in London laughing about being detained in Dubai."
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FunTranscript
00:00I've resorted to putting this around my head because it's freezing cold.
00:19So I look like crap.
00:20I haven't slept for two days.
00:23I was leaving Dubai today to go to Al Ula on a £4,000 or £5,000 four-day break to
00:30the architectural sites.
00:31I haven't made it because I was detained at the airport.
00:35I was put in a prison cell with...
00:39Not allowed to even call my embassy.
00:43I was all on my own.
00:45My mental health was suffering.
00:47I was shaking because it was so cold.
00:49I haven't eaten for two days.
01:17All I can say to you is Dubai is nothing like it's being promoted online.
01:24And that, be very aware.