LONDON — Matthew Hedges, the British academic sentenced last week to life in prison by the United Arab Emirates on spying charges, was pardoned Monday, the Emirati government announced, after British officials lobbied for his release.

The conviction and severity of the sentence had been met with outrage in Britain. Prime Minister Theresa May promised to raise the issue with the United Arab Emirates at the “highest level.’’

The British government and Hedges’ wife, Daniela Tejada, have denied he was a British spy. Family members have said that he was made to sign a confession written in Arabic, which they said he does not read or speak.

Hedges, 31, was pardoned by Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the emir of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates.

Jeremy Hunt, the British foreign secretary, recently traveled to Abu Dhabi and discussed the case with the crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed.

New York Times