Ryan Pepper, a 27-year-old British father from Kent, has been held in a Dubai detention facility without explanation since November 3, 2025, prompting his family to fear for his life. According to the campaigning organization Detained in Dubai, Pepper has not been charged with any crime and has reported experiencing physical and psychological abuse, as well as threats from his captors. British officials have reportedly struggled to gain access to him.
Family's Growing Concerns
Pepper's family, who have received increasingly dark handwritten notes smuggled from custody, say they fear he will not survive the 'hell' he claims to be enduring. His sister, Chloe, from Ashford, Kent, told Detained in Dubai: 'At first we were trying to stay positive. But then Ryan started telling us people had been beaten, isolated, threatened and denied communication. He sounded terrified. We genuinely began fearing he was going to die in there.'
The family was initially led to believe that Pepper would be deported, but his messages became more alarming. He alleged that police had 'kidnapped and robbed' fellow detainees and described the facility as 'hell'. Another detainee later contacted the family, claiming Pepper had been abused and held in solitary confinement for 20 days.
Hospitalization and Alleged Assaults
Pepper was rushed to hospital after what he described as escalating brutal beatings that left his teeth so damaged he required inpatient treatment. Detained in Dubai stated that the family was told the hospital treatment was related to assaults in custody, contradicting the UAE's official line that it was due to complications from a previous surgery. The organization added that British Embassy officials had arranged to visit Pepper but the appointment was canceled due to 'short-term restrictions'.
Pepper moved to Dubai in May 2025 hoping for a fresh start after a relationship breakdown. On returning from a trip to New York in November, he was arrested along with a group of others and has been imprisoned since. He told his family that detainees were threatened before meeting British officials, making him feel unsafe speaking openly.
Broader Concerns and Previous Cases
Radha Stirling, founder of Detained in Dubai, said: 'This is the central problem. The Foreign Office continues relying on reassurances obtained in environments where detainees may be terrified to speak honestly. British officials cannot meaningfully assess torture allegations if meetings are monitored by the same authorities accused of abuse.'
Pepper is one of several Britons being advised by the organization, with other families also terrified that their loved ones may be suffering behind bars. Brits have died in Dubai custody before, including father Lee Bradley Brown, who died in 2011 after allegedly being beaten and denied proper care. Chloe said she and her family are 'begging for proof our loved one is safe', adding: 'No family should have to live like this.' The Daily Mirror has contacted the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for comment.
