Rami Naimi, a British businessman and son of former Saudi oil minister Ali Al-Naimi, has been subject to repeated detention by Saudi authorities over a nine-year period, according to his family’s public disclosure this week.
Naimi was first detained in Dubai in 2017 upon returning from a trip to Australia with his father. His family alleges he was forcibly transported to Saudi Arabia, where he was held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh alongside approximately 400 other prominent individuals during a major state purge. According to his family’s account, Naimi was subjected to torture, electrocution, waterboarding, and psychological abuse for three months before being released in January 2018 after signing a settlement agreement. He was subsequently placed under electronic surveillance and subjected to a travel ban, while being required to sign documentation pledging surrender of funds.
In 2022, Naimi was detained again for nearly two years, with his family unable to determine his whereabouts or condition during the period. Following his release in March 2025, authorities informed him of charges claiming he had exploited his father’s official position and acted as an agent for a US company. After a confidential trial, he received a six-year prison sentence. He now faces additional charges related to following certain social media accounts critical of Saudi Arabia and attempting to leave the country without authorization, both of which he denies.
Naimi’s wife, Mira Lozi, spoke publicly for the first time at a campaign launch in London, stating that her family had been discouraged from disclosing details for years in hopes of securing his release. Lozi, who is currently battling cancer, expressed that remaining silent had become untenable. The family remains unable to determine the specific reasons for Naimi’s targeting and continues to seek government support and intervention to end what they describe as a sustained nightmare.
Human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC stated that recent government measures regarding detained British citizens remain insufficient. The UK Foreign Office has declined to comment, and the Saudi embassy has not responded to inquiries regarding the case.
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