The Real Cost of Doing Business in the UAE

This Report sets out the conclusions of a Factfinding Panel of British parliamentarians who have been assembled 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.

This Reports was prepared by 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.

The Panel was assembled following approach by relatives of individuals who have been unlawfully detained in Dubai. The panel has conducted a detailed investigation 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.

This 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 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.