UN Working Group Finds British National Arbitrarily Detained in UAE for 17 Years

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has issued a significant ruling finding that Charles Ridley, a British national, has been arbitrarily detained in the United Arab Emirates since 2008, in violation of fundamental international human rights standards.

The case was brought before the Working Group by Rhys Davies of Temple Garden Chambers and Ben Keith of 5 St Andrew’s Hill, co-founders of International Human Rights Advisors, and concerns Mr. Ridley’s prolonged imprisonment despite having completed his original sentence and the subsequent imposition of an extended detention period under retroactive legislation.

The UN Working Group, established by the Commission on Human Rights in 1991 to investigate cases of unlawful detention worldwide, ruled that Mr. Ridley’s detention is arbitrary and in contravention of articles 9, 10, and 11 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Working Group concluded that his detention falls within Categories I and III of its classification system: when it is clearly impossible to invoke any legal basis justifying the deprivation of liberty, and when the total or partial non-observance of international norms relating to the right to a fair trial is of such gravity as to give the deprivation of liberty an arbitrary character.

The Working Group found that UAE authorities applied Law No. 37 of 2009 retroactively to Mr. Ridley, in clear violation of the fundamental principle of nulla poena sine lege (no punishment without law). This law, which came into force on 31 December 2009, was applied to alleged offences occurring between 2004 and 2007 – years before the legislation existed.

Mr. Ridley, a businessman,  was arrested in May 2008 during a routine business visit to Dubai. The circumstances of his arrest raised immediate concerns: he was detained by at least 12 non-uniformed individuals who did not initially identify themselves or present an arrest warrant. He was blindfolded, held in solitary confinement for several weeks, and his family and the British Embassy were not notified for five to six days.

In 2011, following what the submissions described as a “protracted and fundamentally flawed trial,” Mr. Ridley was convicted of embezzling state funds and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment plus a $500 million fine. He served his sentence in full, receiving a 25% reduction for good behaviour, and completed his term in November 2015. However, he was not released.

On 5 May 2018—over two years after completing his sentence – Mr. Ridley was transferred to a judge’s office, where a lawyer representing Dubai Islamic Bank was present. He was informed that the bank had demanded an additional 20-year period of detention pursuant to Law No. 37 of 2009, legislation that allows creditors to request further imprisonment where a prisoner has allegedly failed to repay a debt. On 13 May 2018, he was informed that his sentence would be extended by a further 20 years.

The Working Group identified multiple fundamental violations of Mr. Ridley’s rights. He received no advance warning of the May 2018 hearings, no information about the legal basis for the extended detention, and no opportunity to prepare a defence. Although legal counsel was present at the second hearing, the court refused to allow his lawyer to speak, citing a technicality related to power of attorney. The 20-year extension cannot be appealed and is based entirely on whether the alleged debt has been repaid, creating strict liability regardless of Mr. Ridley’s ability to pay.

A recent judgment from the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution held that no debt is currently owed that would justify Mr. Ridley’s continued imprisonment. Despite this finding, he remains detained at Al Awir Prison.

The Working Group expressed concern about conditions at Al Awir Prison, which is reportedly severely overcrowded with frequent prisoner violence and inadequate medical facilities. Mr. Ridley’s health has deteriorated significantly. He has undergone serious medical operations resulting from lack of nutritious food and exercise, and has been held in solitary confinement on multiple occasions—approximately three weeks in 2014, ten days in 2016, and seven days in 2018.

On 19 March 2025, the Working Group transmitted the allegations to the UAE Government, requesting detailed information by 19 May 2025. The UAE Government did not respond.

The Working Group has called on the UAE to release Mr. Ridley immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations; ensure a full and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his arbitrary detention; take appropriate measures against those responsible for the violation of his rights; and provide information within six months on action taken in follow-up to the recommendations.

The Working Group also urged the UAE to review its legislation and application of Law No. 37 of 2009 to avoid creating debt-detention traps that result in arbitrary detention. The Working Group noted that Mr. Ridley’s case is similar to Opinion No. 19/2022, which concerned his business partner who was subjected to comparable breaches, suggesting a systematic pattern rather than isolated incidents.

Rhys Davies of Temple Garden Chambers commented:

“This ruling represents a significant finding by the UN. The Working Group has concluded unequivocally that Mr. Ridley’s continued detention has no legal basis and constitutes arbitrary deprivation of liberty. The retroactive application of debt-imprisonment laws and the systematic denial of due process raise serious concerns about the UAE’s compliance with international human rights standards. We call on the UAE government to implement the Working Group’s recommendations without delay.”

Ben Keith of 5 St Andrew’s Hill added:

“The UN’s findings are clear and comprehensive. Mr. Ridley has been imprisoned for 17 years, with the last decade having no lawful basis whatsoever. The UAE’s refusal to even respond to the UN’s inquiries speaks volumes. The international community must now exert pressure to secure his immediate release.”

The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is one of the UN’s Special Procedures – independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights. While the Working Group’s opinions are not legally binding in the same way as court judgments, they carry substantial moral and political weight as authoritative interpretations of international human rights standards by independent UN experts.

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