Political Prisoner Record

United Arab Emirates

Ryan Cornelius: UN Working Group opinion and current status

UN Working Group on Arbitrary DetentionOpinion No. 19/2022, adopted 1 April 2022

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that his detention "is arbitrary and falls within categories I and III". It requested his immediate release, compensation, urgent medical treatment and an independent investigation.1

Category ICategory III

Read the opinion

Government position

According to the opinion, the Government did not respond to the communication.1

Background

According to the source cited in the opinion, Mr. Cornelius, a British national, was arrested at Dubai International Airport on 21 May 2008, convicted of embezzlement of State funds and sentenced on 27 April 2011 to 10 years. The source said that around 18 March 2018 a closed hearing extended his sentence by 20 years under Dubai Law No. 37 of 2009.1

Status now

In prison. The European Parliament stated in a resolution adopted on 10 July 2025 that he remains in prison in the UAE, where he has been held since 2008, and called for his immediate and unconditional release.2

As of 10 July 2025.

Findings on this site are those of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, an independent body of experts. Its opinions are not court judgments. Each record includes the government's position where it gave one.

Sources

  1. UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, Opinion No. 19/2022 concerning Ryan Cornelius (United Arab Emirates), A/HRC/WGAD/2022/19 (31 May 2022)
  2. European Parliament, European Parliament resolution of 10 July 2025 on the case of Ryan Cornelius in Dubai, P10_TA(2025)0161 (10 July 2025)