Eight Abu Dhabi princesses have been convicted of human trafficking over the way they treated servants in a luxury hotel at Brussels.

The women were handed 15-month suspended sentences for human trafficking and degrading treatment at a court in the Belgian capital.

They were acquitted of the more serious charge of inhuman treatment but also ordered to pay a fine of 165,000 euros (£145,000), with half the sum suspended.

Eight Abu Dhabi princesses have been convicted of human trafficking over the way they treated servants in a luxury hotel at Brussels. One of the victims (second right) is seen arriving at court

The princesses, who are from Abu Dhabi's ruling al-Nahyan family, did not appear in court.

Defence lawyer Stephen Monod said he was pleased he case was finally resolved after nearly a decade.

He said in a statement: 'Belgian justice has appropriately assessed this case which has generated many misconceptions'

The case was brought after a servant of the family slipped out of the hotel where the women stayed for several months in 2007 and 2008 and filed a report to Belgian police.

The princesses were handed 15-month suspended sentences for human trafficking and degrading treatment at a court in the Belgian capital

Police raided the then Conrad Hotel in 2008 where princess Sheikha Hamda Al-Nahyan, 64, and her seven daughters had rented the entire 4th floor for a few months.

They were alleged to have had people working round the clock, forcing some to sleep on the floor.

The princesses did not appear in court, only their legal representatives.