Scott Richards, was arrested for allegedly sharing a link intended at delivering blankets and clothes to refugees in Afghanistan.
He has been charged with the offence and faces up to a year in prison and a large fine.
Richards has Australian citizenship and moved to Dubai from Adelaide with his wife and two children.
Strict laws in the country ban donations or advertising fundraising campaigns without written consent from the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department.
Radha Stirling from the group Detained in Dubai said to ABC News, “There are constantly expats falling foul of the law and also being victims of other people because it’s so easy in the UAE for an individual to take out a police complaint against someone.”
“In a case like this where it’s so obviously unjust we are hoping for diplomatic intervention which the Australian government has done in the past.”
Both the Australian Consulate and UK Embassy are watching the case.
