Salim Alaradi, Canadian businessman detained in U.A.E., 'free at last'

Salim Alaradi, a Canadian businessman who was detained in the United Arab Emirates for more than two years, is on a plane preparing to leave the country, according to his daughter Marwa Alaradi. 

​Alaradi is a Libyan-Canadian businessman with family in Windsor, Ont.. He was acquitted of a charge of collecting donations without permission on Monday, but was not immediately released from prison. 

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After spending 17 months in a U.A.E. prison without being charged, Salim Alaradi was eventually charged with several terrorism-related offences in January 2016.​ Those charges were dropped in March.

On Wednesday, a spokeswoman with Global Affairs confirmed to CBC News Salim Alaradi was not allowed to leave the country due to issues with his travel documents.

But those issues appear to have been resolved. 

A video posted to the Twitter account @FreeSalimAlaradi Thursday afternoon shows Salim Alaradi on a plane with a message for his supporters before it taking off at 2:30 p.m. EST on Thursday.

"Yesterday, my daughter Marwa told me that I have thousands of friends, supporters and organizations across the world who worked so hard for my freedom," Alaradi says in the video. "I am not home yet, but I am a plane ride away."

Marwa Alaradi says her father is on his way to Istanbul for medical treatment, where the family will be reunited within the next few days.

Alaradi's Canadian lawyer, Paul Champ, previously told CBC News the family will remain living in Windsor after they get back to Canada.