A holidaymaker who punched a Dubai airport officer in the face after getting off a flight drunk has escaped a jail term.
The Saudi, 22, was handed a suspected sentence by Dubai Criminal Court and fined Dh2,000. He will be deported immediately.
The court earlier heard that the traveller arrived on New Year's Eve shortly before the midnight.
He was found to be heavily intoxicated and causing trouble.
A Yemeni police officer, aged 24, said that the passenger was brought to the police office at 1am.
“I tried to talk him into entering the detention room and he suddenly threw a punch into my face," the officer testified
"I grabbed him and he put up a fierce resistance, and I called for help. Airport security joined me in restraining him."
He was admitted to Rashid Hospital with bruises to his face.
The defendant admitted a physical assault charge last month.
“I didn't know what I was doing, I wasn’t in the mental state to understand what I was doing,” the Saudi told the court."
A suspended sentence means the convicted person will not serve jail time now, but would be immediately imprisoned if they committed any crime in the UAE in the future.