A British teenager jailed in Dubai for having sex with a fellow UK tourist has been released after serving seven months in prison.
Marcus Fakana, 19, from Tottenham, north London, was granted a royal pardon by Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, according to the human rights group Detained in Dubai. He returned to the UK on Thursday, July 3.
Fakana was arrested in 2024 following a consensual relationship with a British girl he met while both were staying with their families at a luxury hotel in Dubai. Though only a few months apart in age, the girl was 17 at the time—one month shy of 18—making their sexual relationship illegal under UAE law, which criminalises sexual activity with anyone under 18.
The teenager’s arrest came after the girl’s mother discovered messages between the two and reported him to UAE authorities upon her return to the UK. He was 18 at the time.
The case attracted significant media attention and public outrage, with critics pointing to the UAE’s strict laws governing personal relationships—laws that advocacy groups argue disproportionately affect foreign nationals.
Radha Stirling, CEO of Detained in Dubai, confirmed Fakana’s release came weeks after the group submitted an official request for clemency.
“Marcus should never have been put through this ordeal,” Stirling told MailOnline. “What was meant to be a short family holiday turned into nearly a year of imprisonment in a foreign country. We are overjoyed that, following an intense campaign, he has been pardoned and is now safely home.”
His release followed months of legal advocacy, public pressure, and behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts. His family expressed deep gratitude for the support received during the campaign.
“Marcus is a remarkable young man who found himself caught in a deeply unjust system,” Stirling added. “Thanks to the many people who stood by him, he is finally back where he belongs. But no one should ever have to endure what he did.”
Stirling called for a reassessment of the UK’s travel guidance for the UAE and urged stronger dialogue on human rights issues with Gulf states.
“Dubai could have chosen to fine or deport him,” she said. “Instead, an 18-year-old was sentenced to a year in prison. The psychological toll has been immense. This must never happen again.”
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