Exiled Emirati activist sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia now faces the inclusion of his companies on the terrorist list
Name(s):
Ahmed al-Shaiba al-Nuaimi
Status:
Self-imposed exile
Year of birth:
1971
Profession:
Director of the education department of al-Islah
Nationality:
Emirati
Ahmed al-Nuaimi is an Emirati political opponent, who currently resides in the United Kingdom (UK) and who has been unable to return to the UAE since 2012 out of fear of arrest. In 2013, together with the other members of the group known as the “UAE94”, al-Nuaimi was convicted in absentia to 15 years of prison based on vague national security-related charges by the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi. On September 12, 2021, al-Nuaimi was included in the government’s terror list. On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, before which al-Nuaimi was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment for new terrorism charges.
In March 2011, 132 activists, some of them members of the Da’wat al-Islah association (al-Islah), signed a petition calling for increased political participation and constitutional reforms in the UAE. In reprisal for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association, members of al-Islah and other activists were arrested during various waves of arrests, starting in March of 2012, and tried in a case that became known as the “UAE 94.”
Ahmed al-Nuaimi, who is the director of the education department in Al Islah, was in the UK on a business trip in April of 2012 when the wave arrests was unfolding. Fearing arrest as a consequence of exercising his right to freedom of expression and association, al-Nuaimi decided not to return to the UAE. He was later was sentenced, in absentia, to 15 years in prison in 2013, following a trial that was qualified as unfair by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD).
Ahmed al-Nuaimi’s family, including his son Muhammad, who was 16 at the time, remained in the UAE during the wave of arrests. On two occasions, the family attempted to reunite in the UK. However, during both attempts they were barred from leaving the country as a result of a travel ban. In 2014, al-Nuaimi’s wife and five (out of six) children were then able to leave the country through a land border, after which they joined al-Nuaimi in the UK.
Muhammad al-Nuaimi, however, was unable to take such an arduous trip due to his health condition and disability. He remained unable to leave the UAE due to the authorities’ travel ban, which barred him from being reunited with his family. His father, has attempted to reach out to the UAE authorities on several occasions, in order to enquire about the possibility of allowing his son to travel to the UK. The UAE authorities, however, have continuously refused to discuss this matter or take any action in that regard.
On March 19, 2021, MENA Rights Group and ALQST for Human Rights submitted a letter of allegation to the UN Special Rapporteur freedom of expression, the Special Rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities. In the letter, MENA Rights Group and ALQST urged the UN Special Procedures to intervene with the UAE authorities and call for the lifting the travel ban placed on Muhammad al-Nuaimi, allowing him to be reunited with his family.
On September 13, 2021, the UAE Cabinet issued Resolution No. 83 of 2021, designating 38 individuals, including al-Nuaimi, and 15 entities on its national terrorism list. On September 15, 2021, MENA Rights Group submitted an urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights and the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders.
On November 5, 2021, his son Muhammad passed away at the al-Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah, where he had been hospitalised since October 28.
Following our urgent appeal, on January 25, 2022, mandate holders of the UN Special Procedures issued a communication to the UAE authorities concerning al-Nuaimi. In it, they expressed grave concerns about the inclusion of a-Nuaimi on the Government’s terrorist list, as the reason he was on it was because of his legitimate human rights activities.
On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, involving 87 defendants. In the inaugural hearing, the charges against al-Nuaimi and his co-defendants were read out, with al-Nuaimi in absentia. Al-Nuaimi and others are being re-tried for new terrorism charges.
The second hearing tool place on December 14, 2023, featuring three members of the SSA as witnesses for the Public Prosecution Office (PPO).
On December 19, 2023, MENA Rights Group and the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center (EDAC) requested the urgent intervention of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.
The third hearing took place on December 21, 2023, and the entire trial was conducted secretly, with a notable absence of local media coverage.
On January 6, 2024, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) publicly announced that the UAE Attorney General had referred 84 defendants to the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal (State Security) in Case No. 87 of 2023, alleging the establishment and management of a clandestine organisation known as the “Justice and Dignity Committee.”
The proceedings continued in secrecy, with no meaningful public scrutiny and repeated concerns regarding due process and fair trial rights. On January 11, 2024, the fourth hearing reportedly took place with no media coverage, amid allegations of torture and ill-treatment reported by EDAC.
On May 10, 2024, WAM reported that the court set July 10, 2024 as the date to deliver its verdict, following a hearing in which defence submissions and pleadings were heard.
On July 10, 2024, the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court (State Security) issued its verdict and sentenced dozens of defendants to lengthy prison terms. According to WAM, the court convicted 53 defendants, sentencing 43 to life imprisonment, and imposed additional prison terms and heavy fines in connection with allegations including the establishment of the “Justice and Dignity Committee” and related financing activities. Al-Nuaimi was sentenced to life imprisonment.
On January 8, 2025, the UAE added 19 individuals and entities, including three companies owned by al-Nuaimi, to its Local Terrorist List under Resolution No. 1 of 2025.
On March 4, 2025, the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court rejected the appeal, formed by 53 defendants, thereby upholding the 43 life sentences, five sentences of 15 years and five sentences of 10 years.
On April 16, 2025, several UN Special Rapporteurs and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention sent a communication to the UAE authorities, raising serious concerns over the denial of national identity renewal imposed on al-Nuaimi and his family members, measures characterised as acts of retaliation against their peaceful exercise of political dissent.
On June 26, 2025, the Criminal Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court overturned the earlier judgment from July 10, 2024 and increased the number of life imprisonment sentences to 67. Accordingly, the final judgment provides 67 life sentences, five sentences of 15 years, five sentences of 10 years, one acquittal and the conviction of six institutions with their assets confiscated.
UN experts have repeatedly expressed serious concerns regarding the UAE84 case, including calls on Emirati authorities to refrain from prosecuting the defendants on grounds of incompatibility with international human rights standards. Following the imposition of life sentences, experts expressed dismay over the severity of the sentences handed down. Further alarm has since been raised over the prolonged arbitrary detention and alleged ill-treatment of individuals implicated in the case. A communication was also sent to the UAE authorities on April 16, 2025, by UN human rights experts, regarding the denial of renewal of national identity of al-Nuaimi, and his family members, as a form of retaliation against their peaceful political dissent.
| Name(s): |
Ahmed al-Shaiba al-Nuaimi
|
| Status: |
Self-imposed exile
|
| Year of birth: |
1971
|
| Profession: |
Director of the education department of al-Islah
|
| Nationality: |
Emirati
|
In March 2011, 132 activists, some of them members of the Da’wat al-Islah association (al-Islah), signed a petition calling for increased political participation and constitutional reforms in the UAE. In reprisal for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association, members of al-Islah and other activists were arrested during various waves of arrests, starting in March of 2012, and tried in a case that became known as the “UAE 94.”
Ahmed al-Nuaimi, who is the director of the education department in Al Islah, was in the UK on a business trip in April of 2012 when the wave arrests was unfolding. Fearing arrest as a consequence of exercising his right to freedom of expression and association, al-Nuaimi decided not to return to the UAE. He was later was sentenced, in absentia, to 15 years in prison in 2013, following a trial that was qualified as unfair by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD).
Ahmed al-Nuaimi’s family, including his son Muhammad, who was 16 at the time, remained in the UAE during the wave of arrests. On two occasions, the family attempted to reunite in the UK. However, during both attempts they were barred from leaving the country as a result of a travel ban. In 2014, al-Nuaimi’s wife and five (out of six) children were then able to leave the country through a land border, after which they joined al-Nuaimi in the UK.
Muhammad al-Nuaimi, however, was unable to take such an arduous trip due to his health condition and disability. He remained unable to leave the UAE due to the authorities’ travel ban, which barred him from being reunited with his family. His father, has attempted to reach out to the UAE authorities on several occasions, in order to enquire about the possibility of allowing his son to travel to the UK. The UAE authorities, however, have continuously refused to discuss this matter or take any action in that regard.
On March 19, 2021, MENA Rights Group and ALQST for Human Rights submitted a letter of allegation to the UN Special Rapporteur freedom of expression, the Special Rapporteur on the right to physical and mental health, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities. In the letter, MENA Rights Group and ALQST urged the UN Special Procedures to intervene with the UAE authorities and call for the lifting the travel ban placed on Muhammad al-Nuaimi, allowing him to be reunited with his family.
On September 13, 2021, the UAE Cabinet issued Resolution No. 83 of 2021, designating 38 individuals, including al-Nuaimi, and 15 entities on its national terrorism list. On September 15, 2021, MENA Rights Group submitted an urgent appeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights and the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders.
On November 5, 2021, his son Muhammad passed away at the al-Qassimi Hospital in Sharjah, where he had been hospitalised since October 28.
Following our urgent appeal, on January 25, 2022, mandate holders of the UN Special Procedures issued a communication to the UAE authorities concerning al-Nuaimi. In it, they expressed grave concerns about the inclusion of a-Nuaimi on the Government’s terrorist list, as the reason he was on it was because of his legitimate human rights activities.
On December 7, 2023, a new mass trial began before the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, involving 87 defendants. In the inaugural hearing, the charges against al-Nuaimi and his co-defendants were read out, with al-Nuaimi in absentia. Al-Nuaimi and others are being re-tried for new terrorism charges.
The second hearing tool place on December 14, 2023, featuring three members of the SSA as witnesses for the Public Prosecution Office (PPO).
On December 19, 2023, MENA Rights Group and the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center (EDAC) requested the urgent intervention of the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism.
The third hearing took place on December 21, 2023, and the entire trial was conducted secretly, with a notable absence of local media coverage.
On January 6, 2024, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) publicly announced that the UAE Attorney General had referred 84 defendants to the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal (State Security) in Case No. 87 of 2023, alleging the establishment and management of a clandestine organisation known as the “Justice and Dignity Committee.”
The proceedings continued in secrecy, with no meaningful public scrutiny and repeated concerns regarding due process and fair trial rights. On January 11, 2024, the fourth hearing reportedly took place with no media coverage, amid allegations of torture and ill-treatment reported by EDAC.
On May 10, 2024, WAM reported that the court set July 10, 2024 as the date to deliver its verdict, following a hearing in which defence submissions and pleadings were heard.
On July 10, 2024, the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeals Court (State Security) issued its verdict and sentenced dozens of defendants to lengthy prison terms. According to WAM, the court convicted 53 defendants, sentencing 43 to life imprisonment, and imposed additional prison terms and heavy fines in connection with allegations including the establishment of the “Justice and Dignity Committee” and related financing activities. Al-Nuaimi was sentenced to life imprisonment.
On January 8, 2025, the UAE added 19 individuals and entities, including three companies owned by al-Nuaimi, to its Local Terrorist List under Resolution No. 1 of 2025.
On March 4, 2025, the State Security Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court rejected the appeal, formed by 53 defendants, thereby upholding the 43 life sentences, five sentences of 15 years and five sentences of 10 years.
On April 16, 2025, several UN Special Rapporteurs and the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention sent a communication to the UAE authorities, raising serious concerns over the denial of national identity renewal imposed on al-Nuaimi and his family members, measures characterised as acts of retaliation against their peaceful exercise of political dissent.
On June 26, 2025, the Criminal Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court overturned the earlier judgment from July 10, 2024 and increased the number of life imprisonment sentences to 67. Accordingly, the final judgment provides 67 life sentences, five sentences of 15 years, five sentences of 10 years, one acquittal and the conviction of six institutions with their assets confiscated.
UN experts have repeatedly expressed serious concerns regarding the UAE84 case, including calls on Emirati authorities to refrain from prosecuting the defendants on grounds of incompatibility with international human rights standards. Following the imposition of life sentences, experts expressed dismay over the severity of the sentences handed down. Further alarm has since been raised over the prolonged arbitrary detention and alleged ill-treatment of individuals implicated in the case. A communication was also sent to the UAE authorities on April 16, 2025, by UN human rights experts, regarding the denial of renewal of national identity of al-Nuaimi, and his family members, as a form of retaliation against their peaceful political dissent.
