Hotel brawl in Abu Dhabi: Usman Nurmagomedov et al. could face up to one year in jail and a 20,000 AED fine under UAE law after police arrested 10

Ten people have been arrested following a brawl at an Abu Dhabi hotel, with those found guilty facing prison terms and fines under UAE law. Ten people were arrested after a hotel brawl involving members of the Merab Dvalishvili and Usman Nurmagomedov camps, with Abu Dhabi police handing the detainees over to the public prosecutor’s office. Authorities have not yet identified any of them, but the arrests raise questions about potential penalties under UAE law, including possible jail terms and fines for those found guilty.

Abu Dhabi police confirm 10 arrests after hotel brawl

The confrontation took place in the lobby of the Yas Hilton Hotel on Wednesday, November 11, when former UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili was interviewed ahead of his appearance at the Real American Freestyle (RAF) event in Abu Dhabi. Usman Nurmagomedov approached with members of his entourage and the exchange between the two groups escalated into a fight.Dvalishvili later shared footage showing a cut on his face and allegations that Nurmagomedov and his associates assaulted him and his friend. The incident comes two days before RAF hosts its first event in the Middle East, with Dvalishvili taking on Marlon Moraes and Umar Nurmagomedov, who are due to face Urijah Faber on Saturday 14 November.Police in Abu Dhabi confirmed on Thursday evening that 10 people had been arrested. Eight were identified as being involved in the fight, while two others were arrested for filming the incident. All 10 were referred to the public prosecutor’s office for further legal proceedings.The police said in a statement that the fight followed previous disputes between several individuals and underlined their commitment to maintaining public order and rigorously dealing with behavior that threatens public safety.However, the announcement did not identify any of those arrested. It has not been officially confirmed that Usman Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov or Dvalishvili are among the 10 people detained. Although reports suggested that Usman had been taken into custody, the police statement itself does not name any of the fighters and their individual status remains unconfirmed.

What prison sentence could those involved face?

The potential punishment for physical assault depends largely on the injuries sustained and their consequences, according to UAE Federal Law No. 31 of 2021, the country’s penal code.Under Article 390, an assault that results in injury causing incapacitation for 20 days or less is punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to AED 10,000 (approximately US$2,700). This is the potential maximum sentence for the category of assault described in the legal provisions, not an automatic sentence for all participants in the hotel brawl.More serious injuries can lead to higher penalties. If the assault causes the victim to be unable to work for more than 20 days, the law provides for prison terms and fines with the exact penalty depending on the circumstances and extent of the injury.Therefore, the medical evaluation of those involved could become important in determining how prosecutors classify the incident. Dvalishvili shared footage of his facial cut and treatment, but that alone does not determine the legal severity of his injury. Authorities will have to consider the medical evidence along with the circumstances of the confrontation.The consequences could be more severe if prosecutors find aggravating circumstances, including a premeditated attack or the involvement of multiple assailants. The footage, which has been circulating online, shows several people involved in the confrontation, but does not in itself determine who initiated the violence or each person’s individual behavior. These findings would have to undergo investigation and legal proceedings.

Could they also face public order charges?

The consequences can go beyond physical assault. Under the UAE Federal Law No. 31 of 2021, conduct that disturbs public order or endangers public safety may be subject to additional criminal sanctions.According to Article 210, participation in an assembly of at least five people in a public place under circumstances threatening public safety may be punishable by imprisonment and a fine. If the participants refuse to separate when instructed by the authorities, the legal consequences can be more serious. In the event that the assembly disturbs the public peace or endangers others, the law provides for further sanctions.Separately, Article 411 applies to certain acts that violate public decency. Such crimes are punishable by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine, depending on the specific conduct.Public insults and abusive language may also be punishable by separate penalties under UAE law, with some offenses punishable by up to one year in prison and fines of up to AED 20,000 (approximately US$5,400).However, these are potential statutory provisions, not automatic charges. Prosecutors would have to find out the specific conduct of each individual and whether the statutory requirements were met for each crime.

Could those who filmed the fight face separate penalties?

The two arrests of the people who filmed the confrontation raise a separate legal issue. Abu Dhabi police specifically distinguished them from the eight people arrested for taking part in the fight, confirming that they too had been referred to prosecutors.UAE Federal Decree No. 34 of 2021, which deals with cybercrime, contains provisions regarding privacy and the unauthorized uploading or sharing of images and videos. Depending on the circumstances, recording or distributing footage without consent could be subject to separate legal review. However, the fact that two people were arrested for filming the incident does not determine what specific crime they may face or what punishment prosecutors may seek.

What happens after an arrest?

The transfer of 10 persons to the public prosecutor’s office represents the next stage of the process. Prosecutors will review the circumstances of the fight, available footage, medical evidence and the behavior of those involved before determining what charges should follow.The fact that Dvalishvili allegedly had no intention of pressing charges does not in itself guarantee the end of the case. Police have already confirmed that they intervened after the public row and arrested those they said were involved, along with two people accused of filming.Currently, the main difference remains between confirmed arrests and the identity of detainees. Abu Dhabi police have not named any individuals and there is no official confirmation that Dvalishvili, Usman Nurmagomedov or Umar Nurmagomedov are among them. Until authorities identify the individuals involved and prosecutors determine the nature of any charges, potential prison sentences and fines will depend on the results of the investigation.

Could Abu Dhabi incident derail Usman Nurmagomedov’s UFC ambitions?

Usman Nurmagomedov’s expected move to the UFC could face complications as an investigation in Abu Dhabi develops. The 28-year-old has established himself as one of the premier lightweights outside of the promotion, and UFC president Dana White acknowledged the organization’s interest last month. National: “We are interested.” Nurmagomedov is now a free agent after his PFL contract expired and the organization’s 90-day exclusive negotiating period ended on October 29.

Khabib Nurmagomedov and Usman Nurmagomedov.

However, his behavior outside the competition has attracted attention before. At UFC 302 in June 2024, he entered the Octagon to celebrate Islam Makhachev’s victory over Dustin Poirier before being led away by security. He repeated the move in August after his brother Umar was knocked out by Song Yadong.The incident in Abu Dhabi is of more serious concern as it led to arrests and the referral of the case to the public prosecutor’s office. If Nurmagomedov faces criminal charges or convictions, the outcome could affect the UFC’s evaluation of a possible contract signing. There is no indication that the promotion imposed a ban or disciplinary action against him.