Destination Risk Register

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of seven semiautonomous emirates. The rulers of the seven emirates constitute the Federal Supreme Council, the country’s highest legislative and executive body. The council selects a president and a vice president from its membership, and the president appoints the prime minister and cabinet. The emirates are under patriarchal rule with political allegiance defined by loyalty to tribal leaders, leaders of the individual emirates, and leaders of the federation. A limited, appointed electorate participates in periodic elections for the partially elected Federal National Council, a consultative body that examines, reviews, and recommends changes to legislation and may discuss topics for legislation. Citizens may express their concerns directly to their leaders through traditional consultative mechanisms such as the open majlis (forum), but they do not have the right to choose their government in free and fair elections. There were reports that members of the security forces committed some abuses. The government did not take credible steps to identify and punish officials who may commit human rights abuses.

The overall score indicates that there are substantial risks of potential human rights violations in this country. This may also include the tourism sector. Relevant risks for the tourism sector are, e.g.:

• Outlawing of independent trade unions or significant restrictions on workers' freedom of association
• Unenforced laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual activity between adults