UAE Increases Crackdown on Palestinians in Its Territory
Since October, the UAE has intensified its repressive measures against Palestinians within its borders, aligning with the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza. These measures include arbitrary arrests and the detention of dozens of Palestinians for expressing solidarity with Gaza or criticizing the UAE’s normalization with Israel.
These measures also included preventing the issuance of entry visas to the UAE for Palestinians and not issuing or renewing residency permits for them, as well as preventing the transfer of funds to the Gaza Strip and other restrictive steps.
At the graduation ceremony at New York University Abu Dhabi last May, a student wearing the traditional black and white Palestinian keffiyeh chanted: “Free Palestine” as he crossed the stage to receive his diploma, which caused the local authorities to deport him from the country.
According to an Associated Press report, this incident arises as the UAE navigates its diplomatic recognition of Israel while the genocide in Gaza has persisted for over nine months.
Multiple testimonies suggest that this is not an isolated incident but part of a deliberate policy by the UAE’s General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs to impose restrictions on Palestinian residents.
Manar (a pseudonym) discloses that her husband was initially detained for two weeks without any information on his whereabouts, leading her to reach out to the police and the Ministry of Health for updates, but they responded that they did not know his situation.
Manar adds that she contacted the police again several days after her husband’s disappearance, only to receive a response that he was being detained by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, with a refusal to provide any additional information.
She states that he was eventually released after multiple rounds of questioning, during which many provocative questions were asked and his phone was searched. She declined to disclose the specifics of these questions to protect her and her husband’s identities.
Muhammad (a pseudonym) recounts that he was detained while returning from the mosque after one of the prayers. During his interrogation, authorities searched his phone, examining contact numbers belonging to individuals he had interacted with professionally due to the nature of his job.
He adds that he never knew that storing any number on his phone could become a charge or expose him to any legal accountability, especially since this person was officially and legally residing in the Emirates and working for a well-known company.
He reveals that what provoked him most was not only the search of his phone and the presence of private pictures of his family on it, but the nature of the questions that were directed to him, saying: “They asked me about my opinion on Emirati-Israeli relations, and about whether I was following the campaign to boycott Israeli and American products that support Israel.”
He explains: “I answered that I support anything that preserves the security of the country and that I do not boycott Israeli and other products. I lied and after the interview, I wanted to scream at the top of my voice. The Israelis move freely in this country while my people are being killed in Gaza and I am unable even to show solidarity with them.”.
He confirms, “Although I am currently living in the UAE following the security investigation, I plan to leave soon and seek opportunities elsewhere, leaving this place forever.”
Years before that, and even before the Emirati-Israeli normalization, Asaad (a pseudonym) revealed that he was holding a job in a certain company and then was fired, after which he was unable to obtain a residence permit even after obtaining a work contract, and he remained in this state for several months.
Asaad adds that after that, a person from the General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs contacted him and asked him to come for an interview, during which he was asked about many people within his field of work and whether he knew them or not.
He reveals, “They demanded that I provide information and identify anyone who might pose a threat to the security of the Emirates, in exchange for rectifying my legal status and securing residency. I refused, of course. These are all ordinary people just trying to make a living, whether their family members or relatives work in the government or even with the resistance. This is neither a crime nor a shame, and I certainly did not provide such information.”
He added that after a “lack of cooperation” with the authorities, he was instructed to leave the Emirates immediately. Meanwhile, an acquaintance helped him with various tasks, such as renting out his house and selling his furniture. He noted, “I’ve since learned from some friends that the situation has deteriorated significantly.”
Muhammad (pseudonym) says he has heard about these campaigns and multiple deportations, so he tries to avoid any action that might lead to deportation or accountability.
He added, “Since the beginning of the war, I’ve been boycotting American products. While at a supermarket asking for a specific soft drink, the seller told me it was out of stock but offered Coca-Cola and Pepsi. I replied that I was just looking for a change and wanted to try something different.”
He further explains that he anticipates a call or contact from local authorities for an interview soon, so he is actively seeking opportunities in another country to avoid the constant threat and fear of deportation.
Masoud (a pseudonym) faced even more severe conditions. He was initially investigated and, two weeks later, was detained at his workplace, where he was held for hours without being charged.
Masoud says that without any introductions, he was allowed to communicate with his wife only to book a flight ticket for him to any place, and to prepare his bag and passport to leave the Emirates immediately.
He explains: “My wife says that after this call, some individuals from the local authorities arrived to search the house, and after not finding anything, he allowed me to go to my husband and give him the small suitcase and passport.”
Masoud said that upon hearing about his second detention, his wife immediately contacted his brother to inform him of the deportation. His brother quickly took steps to arrange for Masoud’s travel to a nearby country while they sorted out their situation.
He adds that his wife remained with their young child for several days to finalize various procedures, including ending rental contracts and selling their furniture, before arranging her travel to join him.
