British Family's Nine-Year Ordeal Over Husband's Detention in Saudi Arabia
Rami Naimi, a British businessman and son of former Saudi oil minister Ali Al-Naimi, has been detained by Saudi authorities for nearly nine years. His family alleges that he was abducted in Dubai in 2017 after returning from a trip to Australia with his father.
Naimi was held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh alongside 400 of the kingdom's most powerful people, where he was tortured and coerced into signing a settlement agreement. The family claims that Naimi was forced to surrender 5bn Saudi riyals (£200m) without possessing it.
In 2022, Naimi was detained again for two years, during which time his family had no contact with him. After his release in March 2025, he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment after a secret trial. The charges against him include 'exploiting' his father's influence and attempting to leave the country without permission.
Naimi's wife, Mira Lozi, has spoken out about their ordeal, describing it as a 'nightmare'. She said that they were encouraged to keep silent since 2017 to help secure her husband's release. The family now hopes to meet with the new prime minister and foreign secretary to seek support.