DUBAI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Monday the country has pardoned British student Matthew Hedges who was sentenced to life in prison for spying.

Jaber al Lamki, Executive Director of Media and Strategic Communications of the UAE, talks about the Matthew Hedges case during a press conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Nov. 26, 2018. (Photo: AP)

Hedges will be set free and be allowed to leave the UAE, according to Emirates News Agency.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said that the decision to grant a pardon underlies fundamental strength of UAE-Britain ties.

The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeals last week sentenced Hedges, a 31-year-old PhD student at Durham University, to life in jail on charges that he was spying for Britain.

He was arrested at Dubai airport on May 5 and referred to trial in October.