On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our United Arab Emirates LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For United Arab Emirates country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our United Arab Emirates COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by United Arab Emirates.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which United Arab Emirates is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
The United Arab Emirates is not a state party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, nor to its 1967 Protocol.
There is no legal framework to govern the relationship between UNHCR and the Government of the United Arab Emirates. The UNHCR office in United Arab Emirates works under the umbrella of the UNDP. Under current conditions, the functional responsibilities for all aspects related to refugee status determination in the country are carried out by UNHCR. In their submission for the Universal Periodic Review, the UNHCR noted that despite the “absence of a national framework regulating issues related to asylum, the Government of United Arab Emirates continues to respect international refugee protection standards, including the essential principle of non-refoulement.”
Legal aid organisations
We have not yet identified any organisations that provide legal assistance for refugees in the United Arab Emirates. If you have any suggestions, please get in touch.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Facebook
Email: lgbtuae@hush.com
LGBT Rights UAE is a non-governmental organisation that strives to raise awareness about the issues that face the LGBT Community in the UAE. Their mission is to raise awareness, educate the public and allow open dialogue about the Universal Rights that belong to the LGBT community of the United Arab Emirates. Their mission is to also advocate for decriminalizing homosexuality, same sex relationships, or sexual activity between consenting individuals of the same sex or otherwise.
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Legal Information Website – Legal information available in English, Spanish, Creole, Arabic, Pashto, Farsi (Dari).
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides free legal help to some refugees and displaced people. IRAP cannot grant refugee status or visas or speed up cases. IRAP cannot provide financial help, find or pay for housing, or find jobs. They do not make any decisions concerning resettlement and they are completely independent of UNHCR and national governments. Any information sent to IRAP is highly confidential, and all services are free of charge. IRAP provides free legal services to refugees seeking refugee protection and resettlement.
IRAP can help some people in processes like:
- Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa applications. IRAP helps with some kinds of Chief of Mission appeals.
- Family reunification for refugees with relatives in the United States and in some European countries. IRAP helps with some stages and some kinds of family reunification processes.
- UNHCR processes. IRAP represents some refugees in certain UNHCR processes in certain countries.
- U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) applications. IRAP helps with some kinds of Requests for Review (RFRs) of USRAP denials.
- Some other processes, like refugees in the U.S. applying for a refugee travel document.
Anyone can request legal help through their chatbot on Facebook by clicking here or on Telegram by clicking here.
This webform is for Afghan SIV applicants who want to file or have received denials from the Chief of Mission (COM) and who do not currently have an application or appeal pending review at COM to request legal help.
IRAP Jordan accepts requests for assistance through this form. The form is only available when IRAP Jordan is accepting new requests for assistance. If the form is not available, please check back to that link regularly.
IRAP is not able to assist everyone who contacts them, and emailing them or getting in touch does not create an attorney-client relationship.
United Arab Emirates LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in United Arab Emirates.
United Arab Emirates COI
Find United Arab Emirates Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023