Israeli woman sentenced to death in Dubai

An Israeli woman has been sentenced to death in Dubai after she was found carrying half a kilogram of cocaine.

Haifa resident Fidaa Kiwan, 43, came to work in the United Arab Emirates just over a year ago at the invitation of a Palestinian acquaintance, and was arrested on 17 March 2021, after the stash was found in her apartment. She denies that the cocaine was hers and her lawyer is expected to appeal.

Israeli diplomats, whose relations with UAE officials were normalised in 2020, told the Times of Israel that they expect Kiwan’s sentence to be reduced to a long custodial term, even though the Emirates are known for their harsh anti-drugs sentencing.

Ever since the landmark Abraham Accords – signed between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain – tens of thousands of Israeli tourists have flocked to states like Dubai, as bilateral relations have developed in fields such as trade and science.