Aussies fall foul of law as Dubai slumps

MORE than 90 Australians have found themselves on the wrong side of tough Arab law in the past 18 months as foreigners continue to cop fallout from the bursting of Dubai's development boom.

The Rudd Government yesterday confirmed that 91 Australians had been arrested in the United Arab Emirates — notably in Dubai — since January 2008.

The offences range from relatively minor infringements such as non-payment of hotel bills through to allegations of bribery, fraud and espionage.