A British woman has detailed the harrowing ordeal her family has endured after her husband, businessman Rami Naimi, was allegedly abducted, tortured, and subjected to secret trials by Saudi Arabian authorities. Naimi, son of former Saudi oil minister Ali Al-Naimi, was first detained in Dubai in 2017 and again in 2022, spending two years in detention before being sentenced last year to six years in prison.
Mira Lozi, Naimi's wife, revealed for the first time the extent of her husband's alleged mistreatment, which she claims included electrocution and waterboarding. The family launched a campaign in London this week to secure his release, describing the past nine years as a "nightmare."
According to Lozi, Naimi was blindfolded and forcibly taken from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and then by private jet to Saudi Arabia in 2017. He was allegedly held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh for three months, during which he suffered torture, electrocution, waterboarding, and psychological abuse. This initial detention occurred during a broader purge of Saudi political, royal, and business figures in November 2017.
Following his release after three months, Naimi was placed under house arrest and allegedly forced to sign a settlement agreement forfeiting £200 million. The family expressed extreme fear for their safety during this period, with Lozi stating they felt like they were "walking like ghosts" and were too scared to visit him.
Naimi's son, Ali, who was 12 at the time of his father's first detention, spoke of the profound emotional toll. He described living a life without his father and feeling traumatized throughout his childhood. He also noted how his father, after his initial release, was under electronic surveillance and banned from leaving Saudi Arabia, leaving him a "different man" with significant emotional scars.
Second Detention and Trial
The family's ordeal resurfaced in 2022 when Naimi disappeared again for nearly two years. Lozi recounted that he left for a reported ankle bracelet repair and never returned. During this second period of detention, he allegedly faced further torture and abuse. His family spent agonizing months not knowing if he was alive or dead. Ali, then 17, understood the severity of the situation more acutely than during his father's first detention.
In 2024, the family learned Naimi was held in Al Ha'ir prison. He was released in March 2025 but remained under house arrest. It was after this release that he learned of the charges against him, which included allegations of exploiting his father's official influence and acting as an agent for a U.S. company in Saudi Arabia. He was sentenced to six years in prison following a secret trial.
Naimi is now facing a second trial related to his internet activity while detained at the Ritz-Carlton in 2017. He is accused of following social media accounts critical of Saudi Arabia, a charge that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years. The family denies all allegations, asserting the claims are unfair.
Lozi stated that her husband is unaware of their decision to go public, as she had previously feared such action would jeopardize his release. However, her ongoing battle with cancer and the perceived lack of progress in his case prompted her to break her silence. "I don't know how much I have left, you know. So I guess that was the cherry on top for my kids to get their father back," she said.