US veteran and mother FREED from UAE after Trump and Rubio intervene
- Detained in Dubai
- 18 hours ago
- 4 min read
US veteran and mother FREED from UAE after Trump and Rubio intervene
After more than five years of wrongful detention in the United Arab Emirates, US Army veteran Robert Dobbs and his 80-year-old mother Betty have returned safely to Wisconsin, following direct intervention by former President Donald Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio.
Robert Dobbs had been trapped in the UAE since a retaliatory civil case was filed against him by a British-run school in Sharjah, after he won a labour dispute over withheld end-of-service benefits. The school alleged unpaid tuition fees, and while Dobbs was unable to defend himself during COVID travel restrictions, a default judgment was issued. He became subject to a travel ban, lost his ability to work legally, and endured nearly 30 arrests over the course of five years.
Despite repeated appeals to President Biden, Secretary Blinken, Vice President Harris and Senator Tammy Baldwin, Dobbs' plight remained unresolved. The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi acted after pressure from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after which UAE authorities stated they were under instructions from Rubio and President Trump to release Dobbs before the former president’s scheduled visit to the region.
“I feel excited and vindicated,” Dobbs said. “My family are so happy. After five years of being wrongfully detained in the UAE, I’m finally free and fishing with my son. I’m deeply grateful to President Trump and Secretary Rubio for stepping in when no one else would.”
Dobbs and his mother flew from Dubai to Rome, then to Chicago O’Hare, before arriving in Glendale, Wisconsin on 11 May 2025. In a formal statement, Dobbs expressed his appreciation for Trump and Rubio, while criticising the Biden administration for its failure to act. After recovering from his ordeal, Dobbs issued the following statement:
“I am writing to express my profound gratitude for President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio's instrumental role in securing the release of my mother, Betty Dobbs, and me from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Their intervention has been nothing short of life-saving. After enduring over five years of wrongful detention, marked by fabricated legal claims and systemic neglect, we are finally returned home. We flew from Dubai to Rome, then to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and finally to Glendale, Wisconsin on May 11, 2025. Despite my unwavering support for President Donald Trump, I faced years of indifference from the Biden administration and Democratic leaders, including President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Senator Tammy Baldwin. Their refusal to assist left us stranded and vulnerable. President Donald Trump's decisive action has not only brought us home but also restored my faith in leadership that prioritizes its citizens. I owe President Donald Trump and his administration a debt of gratitude that words cannot fully express. I am eager to contribute in any capacity to support President Donald Trump. With deepest appreciation, Robert Dobbs” |
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai and founder of Due Process International, has worked on the case since its beginning. Stirling said the intervention coming from the Trump administration has been “nothing short of impressive and should alleviate concerns over human rights in this sector from other organisations. Last year, Stirling thanked Vice President JD Vance for his direct involvement in helping her clients, Joseph and Joshua Lopez from Ohio.
“We’re seeing a disturbing pattern where only high-level political pressure gets results,” Stirling said. “Without Rubio, Vance or Trump, these men would likely still be detained. The embassies are inconsistent with their support, unless instructed from Washington when suddenly miracles can happen. We do deal with some great people at the embassies but generally, they’ve been prioritising cushy relations with their UAE counterparts while largely ignoring human rights of US citizens. In some cases like that of Elizabeth De Los Santos, they actively discouraged the citizen from seeking outside assistance, while simultaneously being of little help. That only serves to preserve the reputation of the Emirates at the expense of the victim. We hope that with a new administration, we will see fundamental change at the ground level”.
Stirling also addressed the broader political narrative around Trump and human rights.
“Human rights organisations were quick to paint Trump as a danger to international law and a threat to Americans abroad. But the reality is, in multiple cases I’ve worked on, his administration acted faster and more effectively than those who’ve claimed the moral high ground,” she said.
“When Trump chose to act, things moved. While the Biden administration failed to satisfactorily resolve Robert’s situation over several years, it was Trump and Rubio who ultimately stepped in and made his freedom possible. Politics matter in these cases because leadership decisions determine whether someone gets home or remains trapped.”
Stirling continues to advocate for structural reform in diplomatic response systems so that families are not forced to rely on political intervention just to achieve basic justice.
In recent years, Detained in Dubai has seen a sharp increase in the number of Americans facing legal problems in Dubai. As UAE authorities aggressively market the country to US citizens through tourism, influencer campaigns and investment incentives, more people are being lured into a system they do not understand. Beneath the surface appeal of luxury and opportunity, Dubai’s legal environment poses serious risks. What may be considered a minor civil dispute or non-criminal matter in the United States can result in detention, travel bans and years of hardship in the Emirates. The case of Robert Dobbs is a clear example of how easily Americans can become trapped, and how heavily they must rely on external assistance to secure their release.
