Mom of woman, 24, 'jailed for life' in Dubai after 'very stupid mistake' gives update following her release

The mother of a British student who was 'jailed for life' on drug crimes in Dubai has provided an update after her daughter was pardoned earlier this month.

Mia O'Brien was behind bars in Dubai's Central Prison after what her mom, Dannielle McKenna, called a 'stupid mistake' in 2024.

"I haven't seen my daughter since last October. Mia is only 23 years old and has never done a bad thing in her life," a GoFundMe page explained.

"This is a young girl who went to university to do law, and unfortunately got mixed up in the wrong so-called friends, made a very stupid mistake and is now paying the price."

Mia received a life sentence earlier this year after she was found with 50g of cocaine. A life sentence in the UAE usually results in 15 to 25 years behind bars, followed by deportation, on top of a $135,000 fine.

Mia was arrested in October 2024 while she was at a flat party in the city, and had tested positive for cocaine. In court, she pleaded guilty, but said she had only snorted one line of the Class A drug.

"She's just made a stupid mistake after going over to see a friend and her boyfriend in Dubai," Dannielle told the Daily Mail.

Mia's mum had been campaigning for her release (GoFundMe)

"She was crying on the phone and saying 'Oh mum - please forgive me'. I definitely don't think she was going to sell the drugs or bring them back.

"It's a lot of drugs but there are others involved and she has just been caught up in it."

Mia had planned to appeal her conviction that she hoped would allow her to serve the rest of her sentence closer to home.

Her family have continued to appeal for Mia's release, until it was revealed earlier this month that she'd received a pardon.

Mia made it back on British soil for Christmas, and Danielle is unsurprisingly delighted.

The mother posted a video montage with Mia on Christmas morning, adding that 'she's home', saying 'home where she belongs'.

Danielle then posted in the comments: "It’s like a Christmas miracle, best Christmas ever."

Mia returned home in time for Christmas (TikTok/@daniellemckenna4)

After learning her daughter would be freed, the mother took to Facebook to express her 'shock' but also delight.

In a December 3 social media post, Danielle wrote: "Thank you so much everyone, am still in shock, am buzzing, can't wait to give her the tightest cuddle ever. She's coming home, she's coming home, my baby is coming home."

It remains unclear at this time how and why Mia was released.

Speaking to The Sun, a UAE-based legal expert stated: “They did not specify a reason for her release and such things are not made public, but keeping a young Brit in jail for 25 years would have been bad for Dubai’s PR, so I believe that would be why they decided to set her free.”