British Woman Faces a Year in Jail for Having Lunch with Married Man in Abu Dhabi By John Kafo

A British woman was accused of breaking Muslim laws which ban couples who are not married or related being alone together. The teacher faces a year in prison in the strict Arab emirate plus more time for drinking alcohol without a licence — after cops who burst into her dining companion’s house found her enjoying a glass of wine after their meal.
 The unnamed teacher was thrown into a filthy cell and was still awaiting news of her fate last week.
She appeared in court on Wednesday and told a judge she had been introduced to the Syrian man earlier in the day by one of her male colleagues who left the pair to finish their meal. But it was later revealed that the Syrian, who was also in custody, had thrown his wife out of the house after a row last Thursday. And sources said the vengeful wife pressed charges when told her husband was found alone with the teacher.
A United Arab Emirates legal source said last week: “She is looking at anything between a month in jail or a year for being alone with a man who is not her husband. “As in so many alcohol cases, it only becomes a problem if someone makes a complaint to the police and they are obliged to act”.
British diplomats were trying to free her after her work pal testified he invited her. A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are aware of the arrest of a British national in Abu Dhabi. We are providing consular assistance.”
Many Brits fall foul of the oil-rich UAE’s Sharia law — despite it being a brash playground teeming with nightlife. Hundreds move to teach expat kids there, lured by sunshine and tax-free pay.