British Teen Jailed in Dubai Over Holiday Romance Freed After Royal Pardon

Marcus Fakana, a 19-year-old from Tottenham, North London, has been released from prison in the United Arab Emirates after serving several months of a one-year sentence stemming from a relationship he had while on holiday in Dubai last year.

The British teenager was arrested and jailed in December 2024 under UAE child protection laws after it was discovered he had engaged in a consensual relationship with a 17-year-old fellow Briton during their stay in Dubai in August. Although the girl, who has since turned 18, reportedly told Fakana she was of legal age, UAE law strictly prohibits sexual activity with individuals under 18, regardless of consent or nationality.

The case came to the attention of UAE authorities after the girl’s mother found messages and images upon their return to the UK and reported the incident to Dubai police. Fakana, who voluntarily returned to the UAE believing he could resolve the matter, was instead convicted and sentenced to a year in prison.

His release on July 7, 2025, came as part of a royal pardon issued by Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in celebration of Eid al-Adha. The pardon was part of a broader clemency program benefiting dozens of inmates across the country.

Fakana’s family, who had campaigned for his release with support from the advocacy group Detained in Dubai, expressed relief and gratitude following his return to the UK.

Legal experts have pointed to the case as a cautionary tale for tourists visiting the Gulf region, where local laws on morality and child protection differ significantly from those in the UK. Despite being commonplace in other jurisdictions, relationships involving anyone under the age of 18 are treated as criminal offences in the UAE.

The British Foreign Office has yet to comment on the case but has previously advised travellers to familiarise themselves with local laws and customs when visiting the Middle East.