The United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2024 presented a stark duality: while projecting an image of economic dynamism and global engagement—hosting high-profile events and maintaining international partnerships—it continued to intensify repression at home. The year was marked by mass trials, suppression of dissent, expanded fossil fuel production, and systemic neglect of migrant workers’ rights. This analysis synthesizes the year’s key developments, official stances, and statements from rights organizations, offering a comprehensive view of the UAE’s rights landscape and its broader implications.
Economic Relations and Climate Diplomacy
Despite the ongoing armed conflict in Gaza, the UAE maintained robust economic ties with Israel, though it paused new high-profile commercial announcements. The country’s global profile was further elevated by its role in climate diplomacy, hosting the COP28 climate conference before the presidency shifted to Azerbaijan. However, the UAE’s climate credentials were undercut by its continued expansion of fossil fuel production through the state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and its lobbying for greater oil exports within OPEC.
In April, rare and severe rainstorms caused record flooding in several cities, exposing vulnerabilities in urban infrastructure and public health, particularly for marginalized communities.
Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Unfair Mass Trials
Crackdown on Peaceful Protest
The UAE’s intolerance for peaceful assembly was starkly illustrated in July, when authorities arrested 57 Bangladeshi nationals for participating in peaceful protests against their home government’s actions. The Office of Public Prosecution quickly labeled the demonstrations as criminal, and within 24 hours, the Federal Appeal Court in Abu Dhabi handed down life sentences to three individuals and 10- to 11-year prison terms to the rest. The trial was rushed, lacked transparency, and provided only a single state-appointed lawyer for all defendants.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reviewed footage of the protests, confirming that demonstrators engaged only in peaceful gathering, chanting, and marching—contradicting official claims of rioting. The state news agency later announced that President Mohamed bin Zayed had pardoned the defendants and ordered their deportation, but only after months of international outcry and after the men had endured lengthy pre-trial detention and unfair proceedings.
The Mass Trial of Emirati Dissidents
July also saw the conclusion of a mass trial of 78 Emirati dissidents, most of whom had already been imprisoned since 2013 following the notorious “UAE94” case. Forty-three received life sentences, and the process was shrouded in secrecy: court documents were withheld, lawyers were barred from sharing case files—even with their clients—and families were excluded from the courtroom. Only state media reporters were allowed to cover the trial, further undermining transparency.
Rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemned these proceedings as grossly unfair, noting that some defendants were retried on charges for which they had already served sentences. The lack of public indictments, the restriction of legal counsel, and the exclusion of families and independent observers all violated basic international fair trial standards.
Torture, Solitary Confinement, and Arbitrary Detention
Reports from prisoners and rights organizations revealed the use of prolonged solitary confinement as a tool of coercion and punishment, particularly against those accused in mass trials. Defendants, including prisoner of conscience Salim al-Shehhi, testified to months spent in isolation intended to extract confessions. Amnesty International documented the ongoing indefinite detention of prisoners of conscience—even after completion of their sentences—under laws permitting
“rehabilitation against extremist ideology”.
The case of Ahmed Mansoor, a leading human rights defender, exemplifies the UAE’s approach: Mansoor has been held in isolation for over six years, denied adequate hygiene, and permitted only rare family visits. Other prisoners from the “UAE94” case have been cut off from family contact for extended periods, in clear violation of international prohibitions on torture and ill-treatment.
Suppression of Freedom of Expression
The UAE continued to criminalize dissent and free expression through a web of restrictive laws, including the penal code and Cybercrime Law. These statutes impose harsh penalties—including lengthy prison terms and heavy fines—for speech deemed critical of the state, its leaders, or its policies. Article 174 of the penal code, for example, mandates a minimum five-year sentence for certain forms of expression, while Article 178 targets those accused of sharing information with foreign entities.
In 2024, authorities expelled a Palestinian instructor from NYU Abu Dhabi for his political views and forcibly deported a foreign student who shouted “Free Palestine!” at a graduation ceremony. NYU administrators, under pressure from Emirati authorities, suppressed pro-Palestinian expression and warned staff about the risks of criticizing the university or the government. The Office of Public Prosecution also announced new criminal investigations against exiled Emiratis for alleged contact with international human rights organizations.
Civil Society, Surveillance, and Intimidation
Despite its international image of tolerance, the UAE maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward dissent. Activists and their relatives have been designated as “terrorists,” and civil society remains under siege. Surveillance technologies are used to monitor public spaces, internet activity, and even private communications, violating privacy and stifling free association. Content critical of the government is routinely censored, and journalists face legal risks for reporting on sensitive topics.
During COP28, civil society restrictions were high both inside and outside the conference’s “blue zone.” Amnesty International noted that while the UAE claimed to provide “safe spaces” for discussion, repressive laws remained unchanged, and activists faced intimidation and arbitrary detention.
Arms Transfers and International Complicity
Amnesty International uncovered evidence that UAE-manufactured armored personnel carriers were used by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, who have committed war crimes including ethnically motivated attacks on civilians. This finding underscores the UAE’s role in irresponsible arms transfers and its complicity in regional abuses.
Climate Policy: Fossil Fuels, COP28, and Environmental Justice
While the UAE sought to bolster its reputation by hosting COP28 and promoting climate adaptation finance, its actual policies contradicted its public commitments. The country expanded its oil production capacity through ADNOC, lobbied OPEC for greater export quotas, and continued to prioritize fossil fuel deals—even during the climate conference itself. The Climate Action Tracker rated the UAE’s climate policies as “insufficient,” citing overreliance on carbon capture and storage and a lack of credible pathways to net zero emissions by 2050.
A June 2024 Global Witness report revealed that the UAE’s COP team actively pursued fossil fuel deals for ADNOC while hosting the climate conference, raising questions about conflicts of interest and the sincerity of its climate pledges.
The government’s approach to climate finance has been to encourage private capital to invest in adaptation projects in lower-income countries, but with an expectation of profitable returns—raising concerns about the equity and effectiveness of such investments.
Migrant Workers: Health, Safety, and Discrimination
The April floods triggered a dengue fever outbreak that disproportionately affected migrant workers, who often live in overcrowded, poorly serviced industrial areas. Investigations by FairSquare and other rights groups found that stagnant water was left uncleared for months in these neighborhoods, and migrant workers struggled to access adequate healthcare and information. More broadly, migrant workers in the UAE face widespread abuses, including dangerous heat exposure, wage theft, and lack of legal protections.
Official Stances and International Criticism
The UAE government has consistently denied allegations of rights abuses, framing its actions as necessary for public order and national security. State media and official statements emphasize confessions and claims of “rioting” or “terrorism” to justify mass arrests and harsh sentences. However, international organizations—including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the UN—have repeatedly condemned the UAE’s practices as violations of international law and basic human rights standards.
Amnesty International’s 2024 report highlighted the lack of transparency, the use of torture and solitary confinement, and the criminalization of peaceful dissent. Human Rights Watch called for an end to prolonged solitary confinement and the release of prisoners of conscience, while also urging governments to tie partnership agreements to meaningful rights reforms.
The UAE’s 2024 record reveals a persistent gap between its global image and domestic realities. Behind high-profile diplomacy and economic growth lies a pattern of repression: mass trials, arbitrary detention, censorship, and disregard for the rights of migrants and the environment. International scrutiny and advocacy remain crucial for holding the UAE accountable and pressing for genuine reform.
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