A distressed British father in Dubai wrote a letter to his family detailing his harrowing experience of being detained and allegedly tortured without committing any crimes in the country. Ryan Pepper, 27, originally from Ashford, Kent, has been held in the United Arab Emirates for six months after relocating to Dubai following a breakup in May the previous year.
Upon his return from a trip to New York in November, Ryan was apprehended with a group of individuals and has remained incarcerated since then. In a communication from his prison cell to his family, Ryan expressed his innocence and his unjust detention without any legal proceedings or updates on his case. His sister Chloe, unaware of the reasons for his detention, disclosed that he underwent tooth extractions and was deprived of medication.
Chloe had limited contact with Ryan until the British Embassy conducted a welfare check in February. She revealed that he endured solitary confinement for over four months and was subjected to various inhumane treatment, including tooth extractions and other forms of torture.
Before his arrest, Ryan worked in the computing sector and was flying back to reunite with his one-year-old and three-year-old children, whom he had not seen since August 2025. This situation has taken a toll on the family, with Chloe stating that it had a devastating impact on their lives, affecting her marriage and causing distress to their mother.
Chloe recently spoke to Ryan, who informed her about a surprise visit from British Embassy officials to the prison, leading to a meeting with local authorities to discuss the situation and potentially initiate an investigation. She also mentioned seeing a photo of Ryan in a hospital bed due to an infection in a surgical scar, although she doubts the validity of this explanation as the surgery took place in 2025.
Furthermore, Chloe sought assistance from the legal firm Detained In Dubai to facilitate Ryan’s return home. The UK Foreign Office stated that they are assisting the detained British man in the UAE and maintaining communication with his family while engaging with local authorities. Detained In Dubai has been contacted for their input on the matter.
