The Dubai Court of Appeal has upheld a life sentence for an Arab man found guilty of murdering his friend following a heated argument at his residence in the Jumeirah area. The court also ordered the convict to be deported after serving his sentence.
The case dates back to October 2022, when a woman alerted the police about a suspected murder in an apartment in the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) area. The woman, a friend of both the victim and the accused, told investigators she had visited the suspect in the hospital earlier that day. During the visit, he appeared anxious and asked her to go to his apartment to check on a mutual friend.
Upon arriving at the address, she was horrified to find the victim lying motionless on the floor, his body soaked in blood and wrapped in bedsheets. She immediately called the police to report her findings.
Officers responding to the scene found evidence of a violent altercation. The suspect, however, had already left the hospital where he was receiving treatment and was missing from his residence. Police launched a manhunt and summoned his father for questioning.
The father informed investigators that his son’s behavior had changed noticeably in recent months. He also revealed that on the day of the crime, the victim had visited the accused at home, leading to a fierce argument between the two men. The father said he left the house shortly after the quarrel but later received a disturbing call from his son admitting he had assaulted his friend, resulting in his death. The accused also mentioned his intention to flee the country.
Acting swiftly, police tracked the suspect to a hotel in another emirate, where he was preparing to leave the UAE with the help of his brother. He was arrested and referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution, which charged him with premeditated murder.
The Dubai Criminal Court found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The ruling was later upheld by the Court of Appeal, confirming the initial verdict and ordering his deportation after serving the sentence.
