Men sentenced to jail for kidnapping and raping woman in Abu Dhabi desert

The 28-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment while his 16-year-old compatriot received a 10-year jail term followed by deportation.

ABU DHABI // Two men who kidnapped a woman, drove her to the desert and raped her have been sentenced to jail.

A 28-year-old Emirati received life imprisonment, while his 16-year-old accomplice was given 10 years in jail.

The woman, who is from an Arab country, was leaving her workplace in the city when the two rapists stopped her to ask for directions.

They then sprayed her with an unknown substance, she passed out and they bundled her into a car.

As they drove out out towards the desert, the woman began to regain consciousness.

She noticed that the 16-year-old was lying motionless on the back seat. She was confused, so the older defendant told her that his younger brother was in a coma and asked her to read the Quran to him to cure him of the black magic curse he was under.

When they reached the desert, they demanded she get out the car.

They then severely beat her, at times using an agal, and took turns in raping her.

They also stole the contents of her purse, before burning it, after which they drove off, leaving her alone in the desert.

She said she noticed headlights from another car and kept walking towards them until she was rescued.

As well as his life sentence - which is 25 years under UAE law - the Emirati was also handed a further three years imprisonment for stealing the woman’s belongings.

The 16-year-old was sentenced to deportation after he has served his jail term.