An Emirati court has acquitted the President's brother of charges of torturing an Afghan but convicted five co-defendants, including two Americans, his lawyer said.

The court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) acquitted Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahayan "after establishing he was not responsible" for the torture of the Afghan merchant in 2004, lawyer Habib al-Mulla said.

Acquitted ... Sheikh Issa bin Zayed al-Nahayan Credit:AFP

"The court accepted our defence that the sheikh was under the influence of drugs [medicine] that left him unaware of his actions", the lawyer said.

However, the court in the oasis city of Al-Ain ordered two co-defendants to pay a "temporary compensation" of 10,000 dirhams ($3000) to the Afghan, who can file a new lawsuit to claim full compensation, the lawyer said.