Man abandons wife and baby at Dubai airport for two days

The man has since apologised and promised to return home to his family, police officials said.

DUBAI // A man abandoned his wife and five-month old child at Dubai International Airport with no food or money for two days.

“The police were surprised when they received a call about a woman, who holds a European passport but is of Asian origin, who was completely lost at the airport,” said Brig Mohammed Al Murr, director of Dubai Police’s Department of Human Rights. “As soon as she arrived to the women protection unit, she fainted because of exhaustion.”

An ambulance was called to the airport and the woman and her baby girl were given food, said Brig Al Murr.

The woman has travelled from Europe to visit her husband, who lives in the UAE. The man abandoned his family after getting into an argument with his wife, said another officer.

“The woman lives in Europe with her family and said she had a small argument with her husband, after which he said he wanted to take her and the baby back to his home country for a visit,” said Maj Shaheen Al Mazmi, director of the Child and Women Protection Department. “They went to the airport, where he told her to wait for him as he finished some paperwork.

“The woman had been waiting for her husband for two days, since Wednesday, to come back until an airport security officer spotted her.”

During the investigation police tracked down her husband, who had since returned to his home country.

“The man travelled to his home country the same day he abandoned his wife and child at the airport,” said Maj Al Mazmi.

After being contacted by police, the man apologised and has promised to return to the UAE on Tuesday. Until his arrival his wife and child will be cared for by Dubai Police.

No charges were made.