An online charity drive to buy blankets and tarpaulins for refugee children in Afghanistan has landed an Australian man in one of Dubai's most notorious prisons.

Adelaide father of two, Scott Richards, has been detained indefinitely by police in the United Arab Emirates and has been held for three weeks in Dubai's Al Muraqqabat police station without charge, and without access to legal representation.

Adelaide father of two Scott Richards has been detained indefinitely by police in the United Arab Emirates.

His alleged crime is to have promoted a crowd-funding page on the US-based website Go Fund Me, which is trying to raise money for Afghan children at the Chahari Qambar​ refugee camp outside of Kabul.

In 2012, more than 100 children froze to death at the refugee camp, which is home to more than 7000 people.