26 May 2026

A British national has been detained in Dubai "without explanation, meaningful legal access or private communication with his family" for more than seven months, a human rights group has said.

Ryan Pepper, from Ashford in Kent, has allegedly been beaten, threatened and psychologically abused while imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Detained in Dubai.

The 27-year-old has been taken to hospital due to injuries, which are believed to be linked to assaults in custody, the group added.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been approached for comment, while the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said that it was supporting a British man detained in the UAE.

'Extremely serious'

In handwritten notes smuggled from custody, Pepper said that "everyone was beaten up" inside the site he was being detained in, according to Detained in Dubai.

His family said that he was held in isolation for about 20 days, it added.

They added that they feared he would die in custody.

Pepper was detained in Dubai on 3 November.

Detained in Dubai said it had raised urgent concerns regarding arbitrary detention, torture allegations and the wider treatment of British nationals in UAE custody.

An FCDO spokesperson said: "We are in contact with his family and continue to raise the case directly with the local authorities.

"The UK takes all allegations of torture and mistreatment extremely seriously and will always raise these with relevant authorities with the individuals' consent."

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