NEW REPORT BY BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIANS HIGHLIGHTS “THE REAL COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE UAE”

IHR-Advisors launches Report on 4 December 2023

December 4th 2023

In June 2023, a panel of parliamentarians held an evidence gathering session in the UK Parliament to hear from survivors of torture and detention in the UAE, family members of businessmen currently detained there, and experts in the region, to assess the real cost of doing business in the UAE.

Today, IHR Advisors launches a Report prepared by the panel of parliamentarians, Baroness Helena Kennedy of the Shaws, KC, the Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KC MP and the Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP with legal counsel from international human rights barristers, Rhys Davies of Temple Garden Chambers and Ben Keith of 5 St Andrew’s Hill, as well as Olivia Chessell, paralegal to the Factfinding Panel, highlighting the “Real cost of doing Business in the UAE”.

The Report was prepared by the panel who assembled following approach by relatives of individuals who have been unlawfully detained in Dubai and assembled at an evidence gathering session in June 2023 to consider the risks to business people who do business in the UAE and to consider whether or not their basic human rights are adequately protected.

The panel has conducted a detailed evidence gathering process including: submissions from human rights organisations, expert evidence from business and academic sources, oral and written testimony from victims and their families, an analysis of legal sources, press reports and publicly available material into the rights of British business people, and business people more generally, in the UAE.  An invite was sent to the Government of the UAE to respond, but no response was received.

The Report considers the deficiencies in the criminal justice system in the UAE, with a specific focus on the treatment of business people, with a primary focus on UK nationals, but also considering other individuals.

The full report can be read here.