United Arab Emirates

Latest Articles
Guantánamo- Emirates

United Arab Emirates: Nine former Yemeni Guantánamo detainees have denounced their arbitrary detention in the United Arab Emirates

On 24 December 2025, Alkarama submitted a complaint to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) regarding nine Yemeni nationals who were formerly detained in Guantánamo Bay. Having been deprived of their liberty by the United States for several years without charge or trial, they were transferred to the United Arab Emirates between 2015 and 2016 on the understanding that they would be released upon arrival.

08 Jan 2026
Read more
علي الخاجة أحد معتقلي الرأي في الإمارات

UAE: Political Prisoner Ali Al-Khaja Dies After 13 Years of Detention Despite UN Release Order

Alkarama has learned, from Emirati human rights defense sources, of the death of political prisoner Ali Abdullah Al-Khaja in Al-Razeen Prison in Abu Dhabi. His health had severely deteriorated and he remained imprisoned for more than thirteen years despite a United Nations decision deeming his detention arbitrary and calling for his release. 

21 Nov 2025
Read more
جاسم الشامسي

Syria: The arrest of Emirati activist Jassem Al-Shamsi and the prospect of his extradition raise serious concern

The fate of Emirati activist Jassem bin Rashid Al-Shamsi remains unknown following his arrest in Syria on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at a checkpoint in the capital, Damascus. He was reportedly taken to a security facility without a judicial warrant or clear charges, and all contact with him has since been severed. 

12 Nov 2025
Read more
More Articles
United Arab Emirates
Our concerns
  • Repression of freedom of opinion and expression and reprisals against human rights defenders and peaceful dissidents;
  • Continued and systematic practice of torture to extract confessions during investigations and as a form of punishment;
  • Exportation of the systematic practice of enforced disappearance and torture to UAE-controlled theatres of operation in Yemen.

 

Human Rights Instruments
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
ICCPR Ratified ?
✖
Individual Complaint procedure with the Human Rights committee (ICCPR Optional protocol 1) Ratified ?
✖
Second Optional Protocol of ICCPR (abolition of death penalty) ratified ?
✖
Next Human Rights Committee State Report due
OVERDUE - State party did not submit report on time
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (UNCAT)
UNCAT Ratified ?
✔
UNCAT Ratification Date
OPCAT (National Preventive Mechanism) Ratified ?
✖
National Preventive Mechanism (OPCAT) created ?
✖
UNCAT Art 20 (confidential inquiries) ratified ?
✖
UNCAT Art 21 (Interstate complaints) ratified ?
✖
UNCAT Art 22 (Individual Complaint procedure) Ratified ?
✖
Date of last Concluding Observations by Committee against Torture (CAT)
Next CAT State Report Due
OVERDUE - State party did not submit report on time
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED)
ICPPED Ratified ?
✖
ICPPED Art 31 (Individual communications) ratified ?
✖
ICPPED Art 33 (Inquiry procedure ) ratified ?
✖
Human Rights Council
Date last Universal Period Review (UPR)
Click here for the last UPR documents
Membership of Human Rights Council:

2013-2018, 2022-2024

Latest Reports
.

UAE: Universal Periodic Review - 3rd cycle- Alkarama's Report - Jun 2017

United Arab Emirates
Universal Periodic Review
Report
.

UAE: Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - Opinion 60/2013 - UAE94

United Arab Emirates
Special Procedures
Report
.

UAE: Universal Periodic Review- 2nd cycle- Alkarama's report- jul 2012

United Arab Emirates
Universal Periodic Review
Report
WGAD Opinion Diqqi

United Arab Emirates: Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - Opinion 8/2009 - Hassan Al Diqqi

United Arab Emirates
Special Procedures
Report
.

UAE: Universal Periodic Review- 1st cycle- Government Pledges- dec 2008

United Arab Emirates
Universal Periodic Review
Report
More Reports