UAE blacklists 11 individuals, eight UK-based organisations

ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has blacklisted 11 individuals and eight UK-based organisations, accusing them of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which the UAE designates as a terrorist organisation, according to WAM.

The UAE cabinet’s announcement triggers immediate legal and financial consequences for those associated with the listed entities.

Under the UAE’s counter-terrorism measures, individuals and organisations face travel bans, asset freezes and strict financial restrictions. Emirati citizens and businesses are also prohibited from providing financial assistance to the blacklisted parties.

The UK organisations blacklisted by the UAE span various sectors, including real estate, education and media production, as reported by The Telegraph. Companies House records indicate that several directors and top executives of these entities are Emirati nationals.

The UK has maintained its list of proscribed organisations for decades, currently featuring over 75 groups, including Russia’s Wagner Group and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Once an organisation is designated, it becomes a criminal offence to belong to or support it, with punishments of up to 14 years in prison. Many other countries have established similar frameworks to counter extremist groups. Notably, the Muslim Brotherhood is not banned in the UK and classified as a terrorist organisation. This decision by the UAE has reignited scrutiny of the group’s influence in the UK. In August, then-communities secretary Michael Gove identified the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) as potentially extremist, citing its “Islamist orientation” as divisive and harmful. Gove proposed officially categorising MAB and similar organisations as extremist, which would block them from receiving government funding or collaborating with public institutions. In response, the MAB denied any links to the Muslim Brotherhood, stating, “The Muslim Association of Britain is a British organisation operating solely within the British Isles. It is not affiliated with or a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.” Gove’s stance echoed a 2015 review commissioned by former prime minister David Cameron, which, while stopping short of banning the Brotherhood, flagged association with it as a “possible indicator of extremism”.