DUBAI // A Scottish woman missing for almost 48 hours has been found safe and well but was in a “bad mental state”, Dubai Police said on Tuesday.
Friends of Kirsty McLaughlin, who turned 26 while she was missing on Monday, created a Facebook page urging people to share information about her or the whereabouts of her vehicle, a white Volkswagen Beetle, after she disappeared without taking her mobile phone.
Police said Ms McLaughlin had been reunited with her parents in Dubai.
Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri, assistant commander of Dubai CID, said she was found in an apartment she had rented in another emirate.
“We received two reports that she was missing, one from [Ms McLaughlin’s] friend and another from her mother abroad,” he said.
“A team from the Missing Person’s Department immediately started an investigation, especially after learning the woman was under extreme stress and had left her mobile at home.”
The investigation led the team to another emirate where Ms McLaughlin had temporarily rented an apartment to “take a break”, police said.
Maj Gen Al Mansouri said Ms McLaughlin was taken to Al Barsha Police Station, where she was reunited with her parents.
Friends of Ms McLaughin posted on Facebook on Tuesday morning that she had been found.
“Dear all, we were just informed Kirsty has been found and is safe. Thank you all for all shares and caring,” said the Facebook post. “We had thousands of people looking and that just warms up our hearts. God bless you all.”
Her brother Sean McLaughlin also posted on Facebook: “Hi everyone, just to let you all know kirsty has been found safe and well and is currently being reunited with my parents in Dubai.
“My family thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all your help and support over the last 48 hours and could never thank you all enough. We ask that people respect the familys [sic] privacy at this emotional time. Again thank you all so so much.”
Police released no further details.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
