Heather Cornelius, wife of a 72-year-old British businessman detained in Dubai for 18 years, has called for Prime Minister Andy Burnham's assistance, expressing frustration with what she describes as years of government inaction. Ryan Cornelius has been held at Al Awir Central Prison, a facility human rights groups have criticized for its harsh conditions and overcrowding, for nearly two decades.
Cornelius was arrested in May 2008 and accused of defrauding the Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) after taking out a $500 million loan to fund investment programs. He has consistently denied the charges, which prosecutors alleged involved forging invoices for a luxury development called The Plantation. His family fears he may die in prison, particularly given his contracting tuberculosis, COVID-19 twice, and borderline diabetes.
His wife stated that previous pleas for help sent to former foreign secretaries, including Sir Keir Starmer and Ed Miliband, went unanswered. "I'd like to have an answer from Andy Burnham," Heather Cornelius said. "We didn't get an answer from Keir Starmer. I sent to [him] last year in April, and even my brother-in-law has written to the Foreign Secretary, Ed Miliband. We've had no reply."
Chris Paggett, Cornelius's brother-in-law who formerly worked for the Foreign Office, claimed the Foreign Office had ignored Ryan's case for 14 years, believing it suited their relationship with the UAE. He added that Sir Keir had not responded to their letters.
Cornelius's initial arrest involved him being detained after a flight in Dubai, with accusations shifting from drug smuggling to fraud after interrogation without legal access. He was ordered to sign a statement in Arabic, a language he does not speak, while allegedly interrogated in a windowless room. He received a ten-year sentence and a £500 million fine, with orders to repay the loan. After serving his initial sentence, he was given an additional 20 years in jail through a closed-door hearing in 2018. Despite the UAE Constitution stipulating that prisoners should not be jailed beyond age 70, his release application was opposed by the DIB and denied.
In 2026, United Nations human rights experts and the European Parliament called for his immediate release, citing concerns of arbitrary detention and possible torture. The experts accused the UAE of "serious judicial irregularities."
Meanwhile, The Plantation land, seized by DIB, has been renamed 'The Acres' and is being developed by a Dubai Holdings real estate company. It is marketed as a luxury development of 1,200 villas, with prices starting at $1.5 million. Cornelius's family has lost all his business assets and personal properties, including homes in London, and their bank accounts were drained, leaving them homeless.
Heather Cornelius described the past 18 years as devastating for her family, impacting their mental health and daily lives. She highlighted that milestones such as birthdays, funerals, and the birth of their first grandchild have been missed by her husband. "We've gradually lost, you know, anything that we did have. Ryan is bankrupt," she said.
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office stated: "The UK Government continues to raise Mr Cornelius' case with the UAE authorities and is providing ongoing consular support to him and his family."