The United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) 2014 Counterterrorism Law has functioned as a weapon for political repression. With its vague definitions, the law enables authorities to equate peaceful criticism with terrorism, imposing harsh sentences, including life imprisonment and the death penalty, often without credible evidence. In recent years, this repression has expanded beyond outspoken critics to include their relatives and associated entities, signaling an escalation in the UAE’s efforts to silence dissent at home and abroad.

On 8 January 2025, the UAE designated 11 individuals, including dissidents and relatives, alongside eight entities as “terrorists,” citing alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. None of the individuals or organizations were formally notified before their designation, denying them any opportunity to contest the decision. Of the 11 individuals named, only two have ever been convicted of terrorism-related offenses in trials widely denounced as unjust. Despite these accusations, neither the individuals nor their affiliated businesses appear on internationally recognized terrorism watchlists. Nevertheless, all now face the severe consequences of the counterterrorism law, including asset freezes, property confiscation, and reputational damage.

The UAE government described the move as part of ongoing local and international efforts to dismantle direct and indirect networks linked to terrorist activities. This statement addresses the targeting of dissidents abroad and their foreign-based companies, as well as their relatives, many of whom have never directly engaged in activism yet still suffer the punitive reach of the counterterrorism law due to their familial ties. This approach reflects a broader pattern of transnational repression, in which Emirati authorities apply pressure on families at home as a coercive tactic to compel exiled dissidents to return and face punishment.

For years, the families of exiled dissidents have faced repression at the hands of the UAE’s powerful state security apparatus, which has transformed routine administrative processes into tools of punishment. Relatives have reported arbitrary travel bans, the revocation of citizenship, and blocked access to education, employment, and other essential services. These measures are often imposed without formal notice or explanation, highlighting a lack of due process.

Rights groups accuse the UAE of exploiting its advanced cyber-surveillance capabilities to monitor not only dissidents in exile but also their relatives at home. Victims describe routine intimidation through intermittent questioning, as well as the psychological toll of being watched and harassed. Laws that criminalize contact with “terrorists” impose additional risks as family members inside the UAE face up to life imprisonment for communication with their exiled relatives. Consequently, many dissidents report being completely cut off from their loved ones.  This isolation is aggravated by relentless state-led media campaigns that publicize the identities of designated individuals, branding them as terrorists in both local and international outlets. These campaigns deter others from offering support under threat of criminal liability for aiding terrorism.

The ramifications of this media strategy extend beyond the UAE’s borders. Exiled dissidents fear that their public designation could prompt investigations in the countries where they reside, especially those like the United Kingdom (UK), with strong counterterrorism partnerships with the UAE. These concerns have intensified following the UAE’s designation of eight UK-registered companies, either owned or formerly owned by exiled Emirati dissidents or their relatives. These businesses, spanning real estate, education, and media, have reported substantial commercial losses following the designation, as clients, particularly from Arab states, withdraw out of fear of association. Compounding these concerns is the UK’s ongoing negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council, which notably lacks explicit human rights safeguards. This raises alarms that the UK may overlook or enable the UAE’s growing repression in favor of economic and security interests.

The UAE’s January 2025 designations mark a worrisome escalation in its crackdown on dissent. No longer targeting only outspoken critics, the state now punishes relatives and associated businesses. The UAE has extended its repression across borders as it aims to isolate and incapacitate exiled voices by dismantling their personal and professional lives and those of their loved ones. Meanwhile, the silence of international partners signals a troubling tolerance for the UAE’s expanding human rights abuses.

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