Uzbek nationals sentenced to death over Dubai brawl (video)

Uzbek citizens detained after a violent brawl in Dubai in April 2025 have reportedly been sentenced to death. QALAMPIR.UZ contacted Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ahror Burkhanov to verify the information.

Media outlets in the United Arab Emirates reported that a court verdict was announced on January 22, according to which six individuals were sentenced to death, while another received a life sentence.

However, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahror Burkhanov said that no officially confirmed information has yet been provided by the UAE authorities.

“According to the information currently available to us, they have been sentenced to life imprisonment,” Burkhanov said.

It is worth noting that earlier reports claimed that Uzbek nationals accused of kidnapping and killing Moldovan-Israeli citizen Zvi Kogan in the UAE had been sentenced to death, with later claims suggesting Turkey had intervened on their behalf.

QALAMPIR.UZ also asked Burkhanov about the status of that case. He said legal proceedings are still ongoing.

The Dubai incident

In April 2025, a violent clash broke out between two groups of Uzbek nationals at a petrol station in Dubai. As a result of the altercation, two Uzbek citizens were killed. The conflict reportedly began when the victims arrived at the station to check their vehicle’s tire pressure, following a previous dispute between the groups. A police officer who happened to be nearby immediately alerted authorities.

The investigation established that the two groups arrived at the petrol station in separate vehicles. One of the victims exited a red Mercedes and was attacked by a group of men while checking the tires. The second victim attempted to flee but was caught by another group and was also assaulted.

Dubai police arrived at the scene and collected items left behind by the suspects as evidence. Using surveillance camera footage and witness statements, law enforcement authorities were able to reconstruct the events.

As a result of swift investigative operations, 11 individuals linked to the incident, including the main suspects, were detained at a hotel in another emirate. During questioning, they admitted their involvement and stated that the violence stemmed from prior conflicts.

Officials confirmed that the incident was based on a personal dispute, noting that the participants were previously acquainted and had unresolved personal disagreements. The case was subsequently referred to the prosecutor’s office for further legal action. Dubai police also emphasized that such violent incidents are rare in the city and reiterated that Dubai remains one of the safest cities in the world.

Earlier, in November last year, a UAE court sentenced three Uzbek nationals to death for the murder of Jewish rabbi Zvi Kogan. Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed to QALAMPIR.UZ that Uzbek citizens had been sentenced to death in the UAE.