Hanson, from Anchorage, Alaska, first travelled to the UAE for work in aviation before later moving there in 2016. His situation deteriorated after the economic downturn following covid lockdowns and the knock on effects. He was left facing travel bans.

The arrests come amid a wider crackdown in the United Arab Emirates on the sharing of images or videos related to the recent drone and missile attacks targeting the country. The crackdown can be confusing for residents who can already see photos and videos of the attacks widely published across mainstream and social media. Authorities have warned that circulating such content could lead to prosecution under the country’s cybercrime laws.