Attorney general says British man posed as academic to spy on UAE

A British citizen posed as an academic researcher to spy on the UAE, according to the country’s top legal official.

Matthew Hedges will stand trial later this month after his arrest at Dubai International Airport on May 5 this year.

Mr Hedges, 31, is suspected of attempting to obtain sensitive information during a trip to the UAE.

Yesterday, Attorney General Dr Hamad Al Shamsi said Mr Hedges spied “on behalf of or for a foreign state”, without naming the country.

He also said Mr Hedges acquired information while posing as an “academic researcher”. The Briton will stand trial at the Court of Appeal’s state security division.

The charges against Mr Hedges came to light when he appeared in court in Abu Dhabi last week.

Mr Hedges was first reported to prosecutors after an Emirati told them the man had been asking for sensitive information.

Prosecutors later said he attempted to obtain confidential information to potentially pass to a foreign agency.

Yesterday, Dr Al Shamsi said that during questioning, Mr Hedges admitted to the claims against him, which were “identical to evidence and information gained from his own electronic devices and investigations conducted by the UAE’s security agencies”.

Dr Al Shamsi said the accused was provided with a lawyer by the state and received any medical care he may need. The attorney general also said a family member and British embassy staff had been allowed to visit Mr Hedges.

On Friday, Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said the case had been “extensively discussed with UK colleagues” over the past five months.

The minister wrote on Twitter that “unusual and embarrassing revelations about friends and allies” had come to light as a result.

Dr Gargash said there had been a reluctance on the part of the British authorities to address the matter through the usual channels.

Mr Hedges is expected to appear in court on Wednesday, October 24.

Prosecutors said Matthew Hedges attempted to obtain confidential information to potentially pass to a foreign agency