DEARBORN — Former American Arab Chamber of Commerce head Nasser Beydoun, 47, was expected to return home this week after being released from the Gulf nation of Qatar.

Beydoun was expected to reunite with his wife Maysa and his three children for the first time in a year after enduring almost two years of what he called being held as an “economic hostage.”

Beydoun became the CEO of Wataniya Restaurants in 2007 but the organization failed due to economic issues relating to worldwide financial struggles and Beydoun eventually was not allowed to leave the country. He had been tasked with expanding various chain restaurants into the Middle East with help from the company.

Despite getting help from Michigan Congresspeople in the form of letters of support, Beydoun was unable to receive an exit visa to come back to his family.

Beydoun said he wants to spotlight repressive labor laws in the country, which he said has held foreign workers captive over the years.

He had expected to get the exit visa in early 2011 but an appeal put a halt to that. Eventually, options for holding him in the country ran out and Beydoun was able to break free. Allegations against him of embezzlement by Wataniya were dismissed and the travel ban was lifted.