Marcus Lee finally allowed on a plane to leave Dubai bound for Gold Coast Marcus Lee says touching down on home soil feels like a dream after fighting fraud charges in Dubai. Marcus and Julie Lee are greeted with hugs at Sydney International Airport this morning. Pic: Sam Mooy Source: News Limited THEY have been waiting for this day for five long years. This morning, businessman Marcus Lee and his wife Julie finally set foot on Australian soil to be greeted by a sea of overjoyed family and friends. The Lees flew into Sydney International Airport from Dubai just after 7am, ending a five-year ordeal which began when Mr Lee, along with fellow Australian Matthew Joyce, was charged with fraud over a botched land deal involving Gold Coast developer The Sunland Group. Mr Lee spent nine months in jail, including solitary confinement, and then spent the rest of his time in the Emirates in home detention before finally twice being acquitted of the charges. After an aborted attempt to leave the Emirates on Friday when they were prevented from flying by Dubai security officials, the Lees arrived in Sydney this morning. Marcus and Julie Lee arriving at Sydney International Airport this morning. We just want to get on with our lives and start to not feel so threatened, see our family again. Marcus and Julie Lee flew into Sydney on Emirates flight EK412 meeting family and friends at the arrivals gate. Marcus meets his mum Carol McKinley Source: News Limited Earlier: "On the plane, see you soon" With those six short words Marcus Lee signalled to his family and lawyer in Australia that five years of hell in Dubai were over and he and wife Julie were finally on the way home to start a new chapter on the Gold Coast. Marcus and Julie Lee arrived from Dubai after being detained for five years. Courtesy: Network Ten Mr Lee's lawyer, John Sneddon, said the Lees planned to spend about a week with family in Sydney before relocating to the Gold Coast. Marcus Lee is hugged by Rosmary Adams (left) and mum Carol McKinley (right) arriving at Sydney International Airport this morning. "They are hoping to celebrate Australia Day with a barbie on the Gold Coast," he said. Marcus and Julie Lee lived at Chevron Island and studied at Bond University, graduating with commerce degrees from Griffith University in the 1990s before returning to Sydney for work. Marcus gives friends a high five as he walks through Sydney Airport Source: News Limited In a bureaucratic bungle he labelled a "farce," Mr Sneddon said the Lees were to board an Emirates flight to Sydney on Friday, after obtaining what they were told were all the ­required clearance certificates, when they were refused permission to board by state ­security officials. "We were told that someone at Dubai State Security still had a flag against Marcus's name, despite the fact Australian ambassador Pablo Kang had been told it was removed," Mr Sneddon said. The mix-up was sorted after "some very forceful discussions" between Mr Kang and senior members of the Dubai foreign ministry, he said. "The agreement reached was that the Lees would be accompanied to the airport by Australia's consul-general in Dubai and an Arabic-speaking liaison officer," he said. Mr Lee was twice acquitted of fraud charges involving Gold Coast developer the Sunland Group over a botched Dubai land deal. After a tortuous five-year battle to clear his name, he was terrified he was going to be imprisoned again. "At one point Marcus was told he was being taken down to state security, which would have involved handcuffs and summary imprisonment," Mr Sneddon said. People were shouting at them and they were treated like criminals. After their ordeal at the airport, the Lees - broke after using their $300,000 bond to repay debts - had to borrow money from friends to pay for a hotel. "They had nothing but the clothes on their backs and their carry-on luggage," Mr Sneddon said. "To rub salt into the wound, Marcus and Julie had to pay a $300 "no show" fee to Emirates Airlines, despite the fact they had proceeded through check-in and a bureaucratic bungle had prevented them from flying." The Lees now plan to fly their dog home from Dubai.