Death in Dubai: 1. The real Mona Kizz

Monic dreams of leaving her home in rural Uganda for a different life. So when a “friend” promises her a job in Dubai, it feels like the chance she’s been waiting for. Monic is elated, she is the first of her 11 siblings to travel abroad. But just a few months later she is dead. Her family is left searching for answers. What happened in Dubai?

A warning that this podcast includes disturbing scenes, including discussion of sexual abuse and suicide. Some episodes also contain strong language.

Please note, the image is being used for illustrative purposes only and the person depicted in it is a model.

If you feel distressed by the references in this story, please speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support such as Befrienders Worldwide. www.befrienders.org

For UK listeners, details of organisations offering information about or support after sexual abuse, or with feelings of despair, are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Here’s a link to the BBC Eye documentary film, which we recommend you watch after listening to this podcast: https://bit.ly/bbcdeathindubai

If you are in the UK, you can watch on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n12t256jg

Reporter and Presenter: Runako Celina Producers: Ruth Evans, Ly Truong and Runako Celina Field Producer: Bondo Sound design: Andy Fell Executive Producer: Rebecca Henschke Commissioning Senior Producers: Anne Dixey and Hatty Nash Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

Death in Dubai is a BBC Eye Investigation produced in association with Thread Studios.

Executive producer: Mauricio Gris Head of Production: Alex Farquharson Production manager: Siobhan Rae Assistant Producer: Chris Jones Additional production by: Jamie Welham Composer: Huw Jones

Global investigations from the BBC. Uncovering gripping stories from around the world and telling them episode by episode. Delve into a World of Secrets.

Latest season:

Somewhere in America, a twelve year old girl is being abused in her own home - photographs of it are being shared to a vast community of child abusers on the ‘dark web’ — an encrypted corner of the internet where users are untraceable. But, hidden amongst them, are two men whose job it is to try and find her: US Special Agents Greg Squire and Pete Manning. For over seven years, BBC Eye journalist Sam Piranty has been granted rare access to follow their work - observing the extraordinary lengths they will go to hunt down offenders and rescue children. Every detail matters, and every decision has consequences. They will not look away. The race is on.

Also, previously on World of Secrets:

The Child Cancer Scam: Millions of dollars are donated to help kids with cancer but families never see the money.

Death in Dubai: A woman falls from a tower block and her name starts trending. But behind the online rumours lies an even darker reality.

And the Abercrombie Guys: Investigating sexual exploitation claims against the former CEO of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch.

• No. of episodes: 87
• Latest episode: 2026-03-23
• Society & Culture Documentary

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