British teenager sentenced to one year in prison in Dubai for sex with 17 year old

You've used the phrase 'consensual sex' twice, but it wasn't; the girl was below the age of consent. Would you say the same if a 16yo boy and 15yo girl in the UK agreed to have sex?

And what's wrong with showing some restraint and respect and not having sex with someone the minute you've met them (which would apply in other situations too)? What does that whole thing say about both sets of parents and how they've brought up their children?

Why would anyone go to a middle eastern country for a vacation.
Too many boast about countries like this, loudly and proudly.
Hopefully this will bring more awareness and people will stop visiting countries like this.

Because they are beautiful to visit and if you abide by their laws, no matter what you think of them they are safe.
It is the elevated sense of entitlement that most westerners have that leads to comments like yours. Just because we don’t rigorously enforce our laws to people coming into this country doesn’t mean that other countries should do the same.
That being said. The mother wants to hang her head in shame for this. Seems petty to me.

Because they are beautiful to visit and if you abide by their laws, no matter what you think of them they are safe.
It is the elevated sense of entitlement that most westerners have that leads to comments like yours. Just because we don’t rigorously enforce our laws to people coming into this country doesn’t mean that other countries should do the same.
That being said. The mother wants to hang her head in shame for this. Seems petty to me.

I can sympathise with the boy. After all, what he has done seems much more like an error of judgement rather than something that’s actually malicious.
Having said that, I don’t think anyone can complain about the sentence that he’s been given. “But it’s legal in my country” is not a valid get-out-of-jail-free card. We would never accept that excuse in the UK if an adult came and slept with a minor here, and Dubai has no reason to either.
People have also pointed out the small age gap between them. But that is of zero relevance. The law (both in the UK and Dubai) doesn’t care about the age gap, it cares about both people being above the age of consent. If both parties are adults, they can do whatever they like. If not, then it is non-consensual. The idea that a smaller age gap makes a relationship more acceptable is a purely cultural one and has no basis in law.
Given the mitigating factors of the case though, the sentence is quite fair. It’s only a year, and after appeals might be even less than that. One would normally expect a far harsher sentence for someone engaging in paedophilia / statutory rape.

you’re not entirely correct in para three where you say it has zero relevance. a small age gap is relevant in the UK; it’s one of the factors the cps considers when determining whether to prosecute a youth who had sexual activity with a person under the age of 16.
one cannot just read statutory law and know the law in our common law legal system. please see code for crown prosecutor s.5-13 SOA 2003 where it lists in the public interest test – 'The relevant ages and levels of maturity of the parties, i.e. the same or no significant disparity in age'.
https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/rape-and-sexual-offences-chapter-7-key-legislation-and-offences
other factors cps considers is whether both parties entered into sexual activity willingly (ie did they both understand the nature of his or her actions and were able to communicate this willingness freely) and whether it represents a genuine transitory phase of adolescent development. why? cuz over here Parliament's intention is not to punish teenagers unnecessarily or to intervene where it is wholly inappropriate; the overriding purpose of the legislation (soa 2003) is to protect children from predatory adults.
meanwhile, in Dubai the purpose of law is to reinforce cultural/religious values; as my source earlier (written by a firm in Dubai) acknowledges a teenager may in fact consent, but that in law it is still an offence. black and white law; no nuance unless the parties are married.
seems tho Dubai is slowly becoming more accommodating for those who don't share the same interest, as just four years ago it decriminalised sex outside of marriage for persons 18+. ngl had i travelled to Dubai with my partner before then, this is something i definitely would not have thought to google check at any point. luckily, like most adults i only have sex in the privacy of a hotel room and no mum to invade my privacy, so chances of being convicted are slim, i hope anyway. doorman not knocking on my door hoping to catch me in sin while on vacay.