The Uzbekistan Embassy in the UAE stated that those detained were held for "unknown reasons." The group had arrived in Abu Dhabi on a Wizz Air flight, but upon arrival, they were stopped from leaving the airport, had their passports confiscated, and were interrogated.
Uzbekistan's Gazeta newspaper reported that 91 men, aged 20 to 40, were detained. Many of the individuals claimed they were not informed about the reasons for their entry denial or the questioning. The detainees also reported mistreatment, including prolonged periods without food and being escorted to the bathroom under guard. Some were forced to buy return tickets at their own expense, which they considered a "blatant violation" of their rights. The Uzbek embassy confirmed the detentions, revealing that 31 nationals were initially held, followed by 10 more and then an additional 50. Embassy officials stated they could not assist the detained individuals, according to Ynet news reports.
While women, children, and the elderly were eventually released, men between 20 and 40 remain detained and may face deportation. One of the detainees recounted his experience: "My brother and I were traveling to watch the Formula 1 as tourists. There were also concerts by Eminem, Maroon 5, and Teddy Swims." He explained that other detainees had various reasons for their visit, such as business meetings, family reunions, and sightseeing.
"When we arrived, the passport control officers started pulling us aside and took our passports without any explanation," he said. "We sat there for hours, hoping for answers. Later, they called us individually, asked why we came, how long we planned to stay, and took our phone numbers, but didn’t respond to any of our questions." He continued, "We waited for 15 hours. Then armed National Guard soldiers took us to a basement room. The conditions were horrible—overcrowded and stifling, with no place to sit or lie down."
The situation has raised concerns among Uzbek nationals, who fear more detentions. The exact reasons behind the crackdown remain unclear, with both Uzbek and UAE officials yet to offer a comprehensive explanation.
