On the 19th of November 2025, a political prisoner by the name Ali Abdullah Fath Ali al-Khaja died in the al-Razeen prison in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Ali al-Khaja died at 58 years of age, after having spent more than a decade arbitrarily detained. During his time in prison, he endured torture, denial of[…]
26
Dec
Dec
The Gulf region is notoriously known for its constantly hot, sunny weather and luxurious, modern infrastructure, providing travellers with ideal conditions for year-round beach holidays and outdoor activities. Yet few recognise that delivering such services relies heavily on human labour, with many workers compelled to perform physically demanding tasks in extreme heat for much of[…]
25
Nov
Nov
In the United Arab Emirates, freedom of expression remains more a constitutional illusion than a lived reality. Art. 30 of the UAE Constitution nominally guarantees every citizen the right to express their opinions “verbally, in writing, or by any other medium”. Yet, this right is narrowed by legal caveats that allow broad state control over[…]
10
Nov
Nov
Over the past decade, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have been enacting Personal Data Protection Laws (PDPLs) in order to better regulate the collection and processing of their citizens’ personal information. Even though these laws can be considered as an important step forward in safeguarding privacy in increasingly digitalized societies, they also raise important[…]
03
Nov
Nov
The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) 2014 Counter-Terrorism Law has been subject to widespread criticism for its vague and overly broad definition of terrorism. Under this law, acts that should fall under the universally protected rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association can be prosecuted as “terrorist offences.” Articles 14 and 15 go so[…]
