Veteran American Robert Dobbs, 55, has been living a nightmare in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for over five years.
He is caught up in a protracted court battle that seems to have no conclusion, his life is in danger, and his chances of reconnecting with his family are decreasing.
US Veteran Financial Dispute to Legal Limbo
Dobbs’ situation started with a financial disagreement with a former employer and developed into a protracted court battle that he views as punitive and unjustified.
Dobbs’ problems began with a money dispute with his previous work, a private school in Sharjah near Dubai.
He claimed that after four years of employment, the school refused to release him from his work-related visa and withheld his end-of-service benefits.
Dobbs sued the school in 2018 and ultimately prevailed in court, forcing the school to provide him his full benefits.
The school, in retaliation, filed a civil lawsuit against him, asserting that he owed them tuition for his children totaling over $100,000. Dobbs insists that the assertion was false.
As the COVID-19 virus spread worldwide, the narrative grew more complicated. Dobbs skipped the court hearing because he needed to learn about the appointed date and had trouble keeping up with his legal problems.
He has been battling the effects of his absence from court ever since, unable to restart the case.
The situation for Dobbs in the UAE has gotten much worse. He is constantly in danger because neighborhood authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest.
He has turned to taking odd jobs under the table to make ends meet because he cannot leave the country or get a work visa, all the while being apart from his family.
Read more: Yale University Students Receive ‘Crime Awareness’ Flyers On Campus
Robert Dobbs’ Struggle in the UAE
An organization called Detained in Dubai, which supports foreigners with legal concerns in the UAE, has been advocating for Dobbs’ release.
The vulnerability of foreign visitors to legal problems in the UAE, which can result from dubious claims and scams, is, nevertheless, highlighted by his case.
Dobbs moved his family to the UAE more than ten years ago, but he had to transfer his wife and kids back to the United States due to the uncertainty of his legal condition.
The emotional cost of their separation is priceless, even if his family continues to be supportive.
His stepdaughters, raised in the United Arab Emirates, discuss their intense desire for their father to come home.
They are growing impatient and hopeless as they question why the nation he served as a soldier isn’t doing more to assist him in getting back home.
Robert Dobbs‘ terrifying experience in the UAE serves as a sharp reminder of the dangers that foreigners who become involved in the local court system must confront.
As he continues to get caught in a seemingly never-ending series of legal disputes, time is running out, and hope is dwindling.
To correct this injustice and enable the safe return of an American veteran to his family, diplomatic action and cooperation between the United States and the UAE are required.
Read more: Escalating Retail Theft: Walmart, Home Depot, Target Grapple With Crime Wave
