A legal expert explains what could happen next for Lee Andrews following his alleged arrest in DubaiJasmine Allday and Georgia Burns Trainee Trends, Showbiz and Lifestyle Writer
10:42, 06 Jun 2026
A Dubai based legal firm has weighed in on the Lee Andrews saga(Image: @wesleeeandrews/Instagram)
A legal expert has weighed in on the claims surrounding Lee Andrews’ ordeal behind bars – as Katie Price ‘knows her marriage is over’. Lee and Katie tied the knot in a whirlwind ceremony just weeks after meeting at the beginning of this year. In the short time they have been together, Lee failed to travel to the UK and is now reportedly being held in a Dubai prison.
He initially claimed he was imprisoned for ‘espionage’, however it was later revealed his arrest stemmed from a ‘civil matter’. Katie has since flown out to try to visit Lee and find out exactly what has gone on – although her trip ended five days later.
A source previously revealed: “Katie is desperately trying to get Lee out of prison. Despite everything that’s gone on, Lee is her husband, and Katie wants to get him out and get the answers she so badly needs.
“She has been to the prison a number of times now, including going there today, to try to get the paperwork sorted to secure his release. To be released, Lee will have to pay over £100,000.” Additionally, sources suggested Katie won’t need to pay a penny towards his bail.
Katie and Lee got engaged days after meeting(Image: wesleeeandrews/Instagram)
The judicial system in the UAE differs greatly from the UK, and while the full details of the case are yet to emerge, Mrs Awatif Al Khouri of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates and Legal Consultancy has spoken to the Mirror about what typically occurs when a UK national is arrested in the UAE – and what could lie ahead for Lee.
She explained: “A person may be arrested if they are wanted as a result of a criminal case or if an arrest order is issued for breaching a civil court order. The criminal proceeding starts with a police complaint, followed by an investigation at the prosecution stage, leading to a trial in a criminal court. During this process, the person may be released on bail.
“This usually includes conditions such as a travel restriction preventing them from leaving the UAE until the case is decided. They may also be required to present a specific bail amount or a guarantor willing to deposit their passport.
“If the accused is convicted, the punishment could be a fine, imprisonment, and/or deportation. The exact fine amount or jail term varies based on the type of crime they are convicted of.”
Meanwhile, Katie has been keeping her followers updated on the unfolding situation via social media. The former glamour model revealed yesterday she planned to visit the prison to collect Lee’s belongings, including his multiple mobile phones.
In a recent Facebook video, she said: “I’m absolutely knackered, it’s the second morning because I spoke to Lee yesterday and he wants me to go to the Al Awir prison because he’s given me permission to get all his phones, his belongings.
“So I’m going there now. I still need to hear back from his lawyer if I can get a visit to see him. It’s Wednesday and I go on Friday… time is running out.”
Whether Lee can receive visitors in prison will depend on the specifics of his case. “Relatives or counsel may visit, subject to visitation hours, depending on the prison’s rules and the person’s case status,” Mrs Awatif Al Khouri explains.
The saga has been ongoing since Lee failed to board his plane for his joint Good Morning Britain interview with Katie(Image: ITV)
Lee’s jail sentence follows a period where he went ‘missing’ for several days. He had been scheduled to fly back to the UK for an appearance on Good Morning Britain, but failed to board his flight.
Later, he went off the radar and claims emerged he had been ‘kidnapped’. He alleged he had been taken to a ‘black site’, yet managed to briefly FaceTime his wife on one of his three phones to let her know of his ‘ordeal’.
It is understood Lee is being detained ‘on a civil matter’. Mrs Awatif Al Khouri suggests in similar cases, bail can be granted, with additional payments potentially required once the person is released.
“In a civil matter, an execution judge may release the debtor upon payment of a certain portion of the outstanding debt with a provision to pay the remaining amount within a specific period,” she explained.
“The amount ordered to be paid by the authorities or the court may depend on a case-by-case basis.” What happens next for Lee remains uncertain, but Katie has left Dubai and is now on her way back to the UK after five days searching for her husband.