Three members of Abu Dhabi’s ruling Nahyan family were robbed of jewellery worth approximately £600,000 shortly after arriving in London via the Eurostar in October 2025.
The victims, identified as Roda Al Nahyan, her mother Shamsa Al Nahyan, and Najla Al Qubaisi, were targeted outside St Pancras International Station after arriving from Europe. According to court proceedings, the theft occurred when the family’s taxi driver was briefly distracted by an unidentified individual, allowing the thieves to seize three suitcases containing valuable jewellery.
The stolen items were never recovered. Investigators revealed that one of the suspects later sold the jewellery for just £10,000, a fraction of its estimated value.
Two Algerian nationals, Abdel Aitkebir, 35, and Medhi Fatih, 41, were convicted and sentenced to prison. Aitkebir received a two-and-a-half-year sentence, while Fatih was jailed for two years and three months. A third accomplice, Faysal Benoumechiara, 27, was also sentenced for his involvement in multiple theft cases totaling more than £81,000.
Evidence presented in court included WhatsApp messages indicating the group had traveled to the UK with the intention of carrying out thefts. CCTV footage reportedly showed the suspects monitoring passengers at St Pancras Station and targeting individuals believed to be carrying valuable belongings.
Authorities said the case highlights the growing concern over organized theft gangs operating in major transport hubs and targeting affluent travelers arriving in the United Kingdom.
