John Cooper, QC, Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, Matthew Heywood, Barrister Sheikh Mohammed has applied to the English High Court for custody of his two children from Jordanian wife Princess Haya after their separation was confirmed in the media. Leaked information from Haya’s side indicated that she was in fear for her life, the lives of her children and had possibly initiated the separation after discovering “disturbing facts” about Princess Latifa, her stepdaught

Indo-UAE ties to expand Emirates’ sphere of influence a troubling development, given UAE’s record of human rights abuse and disregard for the rule of law; reveals short term thinking of Modi govt To anyone who has lived in, or even visited the United Arab Emirates, one thing is obvious: the country could not function without Indians. Foreigners often joke that the national language of the Emirates is Hindi or Urdu, not Arabic. Indeed, in the 1950s, rupees used to be legal ten

British citizen, and PhD student Matthew Hedges, 31, was arrested last May at Dubai airport as he sought to return to the UK after a research trip for his doctoral thesis at Durham University. He was transferred to an undisclosed detention facility in Abu Dhabi, accused of “spying for a foreign agency”. Matthew has been held mostly incommunicado ever since, and is facing allegations of violating the UAE’s national security. “Matthew is a respected academic and researcher,” sa

A Dubai court sentenced Briton Asa Hutchinson in absentia for being a witness to an alleged assault. Her testimony was dismissed, and she unable to defend herself in court. The UAE frequently commits such violations of basic due process. Asa's case was highlighted to press and UK government earlier this year with support from Detained in Dubai and Priti Patel, MP: Priti Patel, MP responds to requests for support from 21 yr old Asa Hutchinson, trapped in Dubai. British nationa

Following widespread confusion regarding the alcohol laws in the UAE, the UK government has advised citizens that it is wholly illegal for tourists to drink alcohol in the country or even onboard flights destined to or through Dubai. Detained in Dubai will be contacting relevant airlines to discuss their policies. Ellie Holman was recently charged with invading the privacy of an official at Dubai International Airport and consuming a glass of wine provided to her by Emirates

Detained in Dubai welcomes Amnesty International’s calls for release of Princess Latifa Al Maktoum, daughter of the Ruler of Dubai, who has been detained incommunicado for six months in the UAE after being abducted by Indian and Emirati special forces during an attempt to flee the country to seek asylum in America. Amnesty International, on the 6 month anniversary of Princess Latifa’s disappearance, called on the UAE and Indian governments “to investigate and hold to account

47 year old Johnson George, married with two children, has been locked up in the heavily promoted investment hub of Ras al Khaimah. Detained in Dubai has warned foreigners of the history of legal abuse in the emirate and how a wrongful accusation with an ulterior motive, is sufficient to have investors and workers jailed and their assets seized. Indian national Johnson George has been in detention in Ras Al Khaimah since the beginning of the year, apparently because the gover

British National and Oaktree Capital Group Executive Martin Graham, has been convicted in absentia in a Sharjah Court of stealing $264 million dollars from an engineering contractor. Graham has since been arrested in the UK after an Interpol notice was issued. He appeared last week in Westminster Magistrates Court and has been provisionally released pending further proceedings. Oaktree fully supports Martin Graham and expects that the conviction will eventually be overturne