Latest news with #HiltonDubai
Daily Record
07-07-2025
- Daily Record
Freed Dubai teen Marcus Fakana's jail hell as he was 'forced to watch rapes'
Nineteen-year-old Marcus Fakana has now been released from a hellish Dubai prison after he was jailed for having sex with another teen. British teen Marcus Fakana has at last been freed from a Dubai prison following 12 months of "hell". Nineteen-year-old Marcus, from Tottenham, north London, had been staying with family in the United Arab Emirates city when he struck up a holiday romance with another teenager, who was also from London, at the Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah, reports the Mirror. The pair had consensual sex, but as the girl was still a few weeks off her 18th birthday, the then 18-year-old Marcus faced severe consequences under the harsh legal system of the UAE, where sex between under-18s is illegal. Local police officers were tipped off by the girl's mother, and Marcus was put behind the bars of the notorious al-Awir prison, where he spent his birthday and New Year's far from home, in squalid and dangerous conditions. Holiday romance gone wrong Marcus and the girl had intended to continue their relationship once they returned to the UK. However, everything changed on August 31, 2024, when, while still on holiday, Marcus was taken into police custody. Speaking previously about the summer fling, Marcus told the Mirror: "We had a wonderful time. I couldn't wait to see her again. Then police knocked on our hotel door." For three long days, Marcus was held at the "notorious" Al Barsha Police Station, where, according to the campaign group Detained in Dubai, he was unable to make a phone call or even speak with his worried parents. A judge ordered that the construction apprentice be locked up for one year in the infamous al-Awir prison. In December 2024, Marcus stated that he had been "shocked beyond belief" by the sentence and begged "Let me go home. Please give me my life back." Cruel conditions and harrowing rapes According to a report earlier this year, rape is an "every day occurrence" at Al-Awir Central Prison, with both inmates and guards subjected to frequent violent assaults. Male prisoners must have shaved heads at all times, while female inmates, who are kept in separate buildings, reportedly have to wear head coverings. They are packed into overcrowded cells, with as many as 20 inmates battling for three beds. In an interview with The Independent in 2017, ex-managing director of Leeds United, David Haigh, who was held for nearly two years on trumped-up fraud charges, described the conditions he faced while locked up in Dubai. According to David: 'The only way to describe being in prison in Dubai is hell. I was held for 22 months and I'll never forget it – the stench, the dirt, the smell, the heat, and the lack of any information whatsoever." Remembering how he was punched, Tasered, beaten and raped during his time in a cell, David reflected: 'The worst of this abuse was perpetrated by the prison guards and police. I lost a lot of weight through stress. 'Once, when I asked for some painkillers, a guard hit me over the head with a broom handle. When someone's beating you or hurting you in whatever form, in a weird way, you can deal with that. What I found more harrowing was seeing them do it to other prisoners in front of everyone.' Speaking with the Ilford Recorder, Marcus' sister Davena Kumar revealed that her brother had been separated from friends and forced to watch other prisoners being raped. Davena told the publication: 'He's sharing a cell with someone who's been sentenced for life. They've made him watch other men being raped like it's a lesson." Opening up about Marcus' condition one month into his sentence, Davena shared: "He was skinny and he wasn't himself. He was banging on the door, calling my name, and I just wanted to hug him.' Return home and lasting trauma Remarking upon Marcus' return home, Detained in Dubai CEO Radha described the teenager as an "extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system". Radha said: "Marcus should never have been put through this. He was supposed to spend a short few days with his family, but ended up spending nearly a year in the tourist destination. We are thrilled that after an intensive campaign, he was officially pardoned and is home safe, surrounded by those who love him. "This was an extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system. We thank everyone who stood by Marcus and helped bring him home." While celebrating that Marcus is now "back where he belongs", Radha went on to emphasise the " trauma" he's been left with, due to the "severe" impact of the decision. She added: 'Marcus is back where he belongs. But no one should have to endure this. He was 18 at the time, and the British woman involved is now 18 too, a fact she did not divulge to him at the time. We hope his story will prompt serious reconsideration of the UK's travel advice and its engagement with the UAE on human rights issues. "Dubai could have chosen to fine and to deport him. Instead, the 18-year-old was sentenced to one year in prison. The impact on his life has been severe and there was no need for him to endure such trauma." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. 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Daily Mirror
07-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Dubai teen Marcus Fakana's jail hell - 'severe' trauma and forced to watch rapes
Nineteen-year-old Marcus Fakana has now been released from a hellish Dubai prison, following what has been a traumatic year for the teenager after he was jailed for having sex with another teen British teen Marcus Fakana has at last been freed from a Dubai prison - and it's likely his 12 months of hell will have resulted in significant trauma. Nineteen-year-old Marcus, from Tottenham, north London, had been staying with family in the United Arab Emirates city when he struck up a holiday romance with another teenager, who was also from London, at the Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah. The pair had consensual sex, but as the girl was still a few weeks off her 18th birthday, the then 1 8-year-old Marcus faced severe consequences under the harsh legal system of the UAE, where sex between under-18s is illegal. Local police officers were tipped off by the girl's mother, and Marcus was put behind the bars of the notorious al-Awir prison, where he spent his birthday and New Year's far from home, in squalid and dangerous conditions. Holiday romance gone wrong Marcus and the girl had intended to continue their relationship once they returned to the UK. However, everything changed on August 31, 2024, when, while still on holiday, Marcus was taken into police custody. Speaking previously about the summer fling, Marcus told the Mirror: "We had a wonderful time. I couldn't wait to see her again. Then police knocked on our hotel door." For three long days, Marcus was held at the "notorious" Al Barsha Police Station, where, according to the campaign group Detained in Dubai, he was unable to make a phone call or even speak with his worried parents. And things got even worse from there. After being arrested, it was expected that Marcus would be handed a suspended sentence for the consensual act and allowed to fly home. Instead, a judge ordered that the construction apprentice be locked up for one year in the infamous al-Awir prison. In December 2024, Marcus stated that he had been "shocked beyond belief" by the sentence. Speaking previously to the Detained in Dubai while on bail, Marcus pleaded for mercy from Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, the absolute ruler of Dubai, expressing that he had not intended to break any laws. He begged, "My family and I are devastated and in shock. I never intended to break the law. It didn't occur to me at the time, and for that, I'm sorry. I am asking His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, to please forgive me and pardon me. Let me go home. Please give me my life back." Sentence horror Back in January, friends and supporters gathered in Westminster to call for Marcus' release, with many condemning his harsh sentence as an injustice CEO Radha Stirling, of Detained in Dubai, an advocacy group that played an important role in bringing Marcus home, said at the time: "Marcus has been in jail for over a month now. Marcus spent New Year's and his birthday behind bars in Dubai, desperately hoping for a pardon. "He wasn't aware the girl was slightly under 18, and he didn't intend to break the law. He didn't intend to offend the country or break the law, and we'd like nothing more than to see him reunited with his family and back in London." She added, "Their relationship was completely legal in the UK, and it is easy to see how tourists can get in trouble. Marcus is, of course, very thankful to the public for all of the support, and he has received so many letters from people. "He's positive that he will get a pardon, and that's what he's focused on right now. It's obviously a very traumatic time and experience. Keep writing to your MPs, keep boycotting Dubai and keep making sure this is at the forefront of everyone's thoughts while he is in prison. Let's not forget about him." Cruel conditions Located some 30km from influencer hotspot Dubai, al-Awir Central Prison is a far cry from the luxury shopping malls and high-end restaurants associated with the glamorous city. According to a report earlier this year, rape is an "every day occurrence" at the jail, with both inmates and guards subjected to frequent violent assaults. Male prisoners must have shaved heads at all times, while female inmates, who are kept in separate buildings, reportedly have to wear head coverings. They are packed into overcrowded cells, with as many as 20 inmates battling for three beds. In an interview with The Independent in 2017, ex-managing director of Leeds United, David Haigh, who was held for nearly two years on trumped-up fraud charges, described the conditions he faced while locked up in Dubai. According to David: 'The only way to describe being in prison in Dubai is hell. I was held for 22 months and I'll never forget it – the stench, the dirt, the smell, the heat, and the lack of any information whatsoever." Remembering how he was punched, Tasered, beaten and raped during his time in a cell, David reflected: 'The worst of this abuse was perpetrated by the prison guards and police. I lost a lot of weight through stress. 'Once, when I asked for some painkillers, a guard hit me over the head with a broom handle. When someone's beating you or hurting you in whatever form, in a weird way, you can deal with that. What I found more harrowing was seeing them do it to other prisoners in front of everyone.' Some prisoners have been forced to endure horror illnesses without being offered medical care. Others have allegedly been tortured into giving confessions. Karl Williams, a Brit who was locked up at the prison for a year in 2012, had electric shocks administered to his testicles and saw men being stabbed to death. In a memoir detailing his ordeal, he said: "I saw men get stabbed in the neck and others sliced down their faces. Blood splattered every surface as prisoner after prisoner was sliced." Williams, along with fellow Brits Grant Cameron and Suneet Jeerh, were reportedly given electric shocks and had guns held to their heads. Mr Williams wrote: "They pulled down my trousers, spread my legs and started to electrocute my testicles. It was unbelievably painful. I was so scared. I started to believe that I was going to die in that room." In another terrifying case, Suneet Jeerh, a 25-year-old man from Ilford, east London, was locked up in 2013 after being arrested with two pals from Wanstead who cops caught with "spice" - a synthetic form of cannabis - in their car. His sister, Davena Kumar, said conditions at the prison were horrific and that her brother, who appeared "skinny" and "not himself" when she went to visit him, was allegedly forced to watch other men being raped as a "lesson". Inmate Dinchi Lar spent three months at the jail after she shared a video of fellow Nigerian passengers who, like her, had been detained for hours on arrival to Dubai Airport. She was arrested, charged and sentenced for "breaching the privacy of government employees at Dubai airport' and 'sharing a video of them online without their consent". "I was really shocked. I didn't commit murder, I didn't steal… I posted a video of harassment of myself and my fellow countrymen," she told ITV. "It was the most frightening experience of my life, absolute torture, and all because I went to the police about what happened in the hotel room," she told The Sun. "I will never forget the jail, it's the worst place I have ever been. They kept the lights off in the day so we'd be eating in pitch blackness. Then they turned them on at night so no one could sleep," she added. Describing the conditions as "demoralising", "humiliating", and "traumatising", Dinchi, who claims she only saw the sun once for 15 minutes during her three-month stretch, said: "There's nothing like personal space... you are sleeping and somebody is in your face. You're literally sleeping on top of another person." Harrowing rapes Speaking with the Ilford Recorder, Marcus' sister Davena Kumar revealed that her brother had been separated from friends and forced to watch other prisoners being raped. Davena told the publication: 'He's sharing a cell with someone who's been sentenced for life. They've made him watch other men being raped like it's a lesson.' Opening up about Marcus' condition one month into his sentence, Davena shared: "He was skinny and he wasn't himself. He was banging on the door, calling my name, and I just wanted to hug him.' Return home and lasting trauma Remarking upon Marcus' return home, Detained in Dubai CEO Radha described the teenager as an "extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system". Radha said, "Marcus should never have been put through this. He was supposed to spend a short few days with his family, but ended up spending nearly a year in the tourist destination. We are thrilled that after an intensive campaign, he was officially pardoned and is home safe, surrounded by those who love him. "This was an extraordinary young man caught in a deeply unjust system. We thank everyone who stood by Marcus and helped bring him home." While celebrating that Marcus is now "back where he belongs", Radha went on to emphasise the "trauma" he's been left with, due to the "severe" impact of the decision. She added, 'Marcus is back where he belongs. But no one should have to endure this. He was 18 at the time, and the British woman involved is now 18 too, a fact she did not divulge to him at the time. We hope his story will prompt serious reconsideration of the UK's travel advice and its engagement with the UAE on human rights issues. "Dubai could have chosen to fine and to deport him. Instead, the 18-year-old was sentenced to one year in prison. The impact on his life has been severe and there was no need for him to endure such trauma."
Khaleej Times
30-05-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Sky View Development launches Avion Residence at Hilton Dubai, introducing a new standard of urban living
Sky View Development has officially launched its latest luxury residential project, Avion Residence, at a prestigious event hosted at Hilton Dubai, Al Habtoor City this evening. The occasion drew an audience of investors, industry leaders, partners, and media, signaling Sky View's continued drive to set benchmarks in Dubai's real estate sector. During his keynote, Akash Kanjwani, CEO of Sky View Group, said: "Avion Residence is the culmination of Sky View's 19-year journey where architectural excellence meets thoughtful living. This project represents our unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and creating spaces that residents can truly call home." The launch showcased the project's Bali-inspired design, floor plans, and premium amenities through engaging multimedia presentations and expert panel discussions. The event also featured live musical performances that underscored the celebratory atmosphere. Bollywood icon Shilpa Shetty Kundra graced the event as chief guest, sharing her appreciation for the development, "Avion Residence beautifully blends elegance and wellness—values I personally cherish. It's exciting to witness such a visionary project that elevates the meaning of home." The highlight of the evening was the grand unveiling of the architectural model of Avion Residence, accompanied by an aerial performance that captivated the audience and reflected the project's ambition to become a landmark within Dubai South. Following the formal programme, guests enjoyed networking and had the opportunity to explore the model and engage with Sky View's team. Sky View Development's Avion Residence is poised to redefine modern urban living with its blend of design, functionality, and lifestyle, offering a unique address in one of Dubai's most dynamic growth corridors.
Time Out Dubai
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out Dubai
Ribs & Brews at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City have some really tempting offers to check out
If you're on the lookout for a laid-back spot in the city to do some chilling, American-style bar Ribs & Brews is hard to beat. Shooting some pool, tearing into a nice and smokey BBQ, and catching up with your besties – if that's not your idea of the perfect chill session, we're not sure what is. Whether you're planning a casual dinner with your plus one, catching the big game with friends, or squeezing in a business lunch that doubles as a treat, Ribs & Brews at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City might just become your new go-to. There's a lot happening at the bar right now that it's well worth your next visit. Here are the exciting offers you won't want to miss. Sink a hole-in-one for Dhs10,000 If you're the competitive type or just love a good laugh with your mates, the Hole-In-One Contest is worth checking out. Set inside the very cool X-Golf Middle East simulator you'll get up to three chances to sink a virtual hole-in-one, depending on how much you spend. Order four glasses of selected hops, spend Dhs200 on non-alcoholic drinks, or Dhs500 on food – and you'll get three shots at bagging a Dhs10,000 cash prize. Read more Get messy with a whole platter of ribs Now if the idea of juicy ribs and good grape sounds more up your alley, Tuesday nights are sorted. From 7pm to 11pm, Ribs & Brews rolls out its Ribs & Grapes offer – a hearty signature ribs platter with a bottle of grape for Dhs399 for two. It's perfect for date night or a casual dinner with your favourite dining buddy. Book now Tuck into wings while enjoying golf The Wings on the Green offer kicks off at noon, and it's a proper midweek treat. For Dhs199 per person, you'll get two hours of unlimited wings, drinks and access to the golf simulator. It's designed for groups of up to six, so round up your crew, bring your appetite, and some friendly banter. Book now A business lunch that lets you unplug from work If you work near Sheikh Zayed Road, then don't miss the Unplug & Dine business lunch offer. Running from Monday to Friday from 4pm to 7pm, it's a set menu starting from just Dhs89 per person and selected house drinks for an additional Dhs30. It's got all the makings of a lunch that lets you switch off for a bit without falling into a food coma. Book now Ribs & Grapes: Dhs399 (for two). Every Tue 7pm-11pm. Wings On The Green: Dhs199 (per person for 2 hours). Every Wed from noon. Unplug & Dine: Dhs89 (per person, set menu), Dhs30 (beverage add-on). Mon to Fri 4pm-7pm. Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City.
TECHx
01-05-2025
- Business
- TECHx
SANS Brings Cybersecurity Training Events to UAE in May 2025
Home » Emerging technologies » Cyber Security » SANS Brings Cybersecurity Training Events to UAE in May 2025 The SANS Institute will host two major cybersecurity training events in the United Arab Emirates this May. These events aim to equip professionals across the Middle East with practical skills to defend against rising cyber threats. SANS Abu Dhabi May 2025 will take place from May 18 to 23 at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr. Just a few days later, SANS Dubai May 2025 will be held from May 25 to 30 at Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah. Both events offer hands-on courses led by SANS-certified instructors. Each course prepares attendees for GIAC certifications and focuses on real-world applications, labs, and case studies. The UAE continues to face mounting cybersecurity challenges. According to the 2025 State of the UAE Cybersecurity Report: Over 223,800 assets remain exposed online. 50% of critical vulnerabilities have not been patched in over five years. Most incidents are caused by misconfigurations or incorrect usage. AI-powered threats like phishing and deepfakes are becoming more common. These risks place key industries such as government, energy, and finance at high risk. Cyber resilience is now a national priority. Ned Baltagi, Managing Director for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at SANS Institute, said the UAE's rapid digital growth has made it a top target for attackers. He emphasized the value of SANS's mission-focused training in helping security teams improve readiness in areas like ICS, forensics, red teaming, and auditing. SANS Abu Dhabi May 2025 Dates: May 18–23Location: Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi Courses offered: ICS410: ICS/SCADA Security Essentials FOR572: Advanced Network Forensics SEC670: Red Teaming Tools A free Community Night will be held on May 19 (5:30pm–6:30pm GST). Titled Tales from the Cryptography , this session explores major cryptographic failures in 2024 and what can be learned from them. It is open to all cybersecurity enthusiasts. Register for SANS Abu Dhabi Join the Community Night SANS Dubai May 2025 Dates: May 25–30Location: Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah Courses offered: SEC565: Red Team Operations and Adversary Emulation SEC566: Implementing and Auditing CIS Controls SEC511: Cybersecurity Engineering A Community Night will take place on May 26 (5:30pm–6:30pm GST). The session, Same Findings, Different Organization , highlights recurring vulnerabilities across industries and discusses their root causes. Register for SANS Dubai Join the Community Night Attendees can join in person or virtually. All sessions are delivered by instructors with real-world experience. Participants will leave with skills that can be applied immediately in their roles. This dual-city training initiative reflects SANS Institute's commitment to advancing cybersecurity capabilities in the region.
