British teen jailed in Dubai over 'holiday fling' freed after royal pardon
A British teen has returned home to the UK after spending nearly a year in a Dubai prison for having consensual sex with another teenager, according to an advocacy group that campaigned for his release.
Marcus Fakana, 19, from Tottenham, North London, was jailed in the United Arab Emirates last year after having a holiday romance with a fellow British national while the pair were in the Middle East in August 2023.
The woman, now 18, had not disclosed to Marcus she was underage under UAE law when the relationship began. Sex involving anyone under the age of 18 is a criminal offence in the UAE, regardless of consent.
Fakana was arrested after the girl's mother reported the relationship to local police. He was later held at Dubai's al-Awir prison, where he spent his birthday and New Year.
Fakana's release was secured after a sustained campaign led by the advocacy group Detained in Dubai, with support from the British Embassy and a letter from Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The teen personally appealed to the ruler of Dubai for a royal pardon, which was eventually granted.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, described Fakana as 'an extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system'.
'Marcus should never have been put through this,' she said. 'What was meant to be a short family holiday turned into a nightmare. We're relieved and overjoyed that, after months of work, Marcus has been pardoned and is now back in the UK with his loved ones.'
His family and supporters had protested outside Parliament in Westminster to demand action, calling the one-year sentence unjust and unnecessary.
Stirling said while Marcus is now safe, the ordeal has left him with lasting trauma.
'He was 18 at the time, and the woman involved is now also 18 — a fact she did not reveal. The UAE had the option to fine or deport him, but instead chose imprisonment. The emotional and psychological toll has been immense,' she said.
She added the case should prompt the UK government to review its travel advice and strengthen its stance on human rights when dealing with the UAE.
'No one should have to endure what Marcus has been through,' Stirling said. 'His case highlights the risks faced by young travellers unaware of local laws and the urgent need for better protections.'
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