# Miliband urges UAE to release British businessman Ryan Cornelius after 18 years detained

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/ed-miliband-calls-for-release-of-british-man-who-has-been-outrageously-detained-in-dubais-alcatraz-for-18-years-after-being-locked-up-by-corrupt-system/
- Published: 2026-11-04T13:08:34+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T13:25:55+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16133497/Ed-Miliband-Ryan-Cornelius-detention-Dubais-Alcatraz-outrageous.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: UK, World

## Key points

- Miliband has publicly called for Cornelius’s release.
- The 72-year-old has been imprisoned in the UAE for nearly 20 years.
- The UN has raised concerns about irregularities in his case.

## Summary

Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the release of Ryan Cornelius, a 72-year-old British businessman held in the United Arab Emirates for nearly two decades. His case has drawn renewed attention after MPs described his extended sentence as arbitrary and outrageous, while his family fear he could die in prison.

Cornelius was arrested in Dubai in 2008 over allegations of defrauding Dubai Islamic Bank connected to a $500 million loan; he denies the charges. He was sentenced to ten years, then given a further 20 years in 2018. The UN has raised concerns about judicial irregularities, and Miliband said the UK was discussing his release with UAE counterparts.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.