United Arab Emirates (UAE): Introductory country profile
This briefing provides an introduction to UAE politics, human rights, trade, and international relations. It also signposts further reading.

What is aid? What is the UN 0.7% aid target and why has the UK adopted it? Which government departments spend UK aid? What impact does UK aid have? What will be the impact of Brexit on UK aid? These and other questions are answered in an accessible way in this briefing paper.
UK aid: frequently asked questions (1 MB , PDF)
The UK’s foreign aid programme has been a source of considerable controversy in recent years. Sections of the public and the media, along with some politicians, have questioned the purpose and value of important elements of that programme.
Using a Q&A format, this briefing is an introduction to the UK’s aid programme and some of the activities flowing from it around the world. It is not comprehensive in its coverage. It does not take a position on those issues which have generated controversy. Its sole objective is to support an informed debate.
We hope that it will be useful for Members and their staff – including when it comes to answering questions from constituents.
The briefing will be periodically updated but we cannot guarantee that it will always be fully up-to-date. If in doubt, members and their staff should contact the authors to check the status of the information that they wish to use.
Other relevant Library briefings include:
Sustainable Development Goals: How is the UK performing? (July 2019)
The 2016 Bilateral and Multilateral Development Reviews (December 2016)
Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill 2016-17 (November 2016)
The 0.7 per cent aid target (June 2016)
The Sustainable Development Goals and the post-2015 development agenda (September 2015)
UK aid: frequently asked questions (1 MB , PDF)
This briefing provides an introduction to UAE politics, human rights, trade, and international relations. It also signposts further reading.
Recall allows voters to remove an elected representative between elections by signing a petition. This briefing explains how UK recall petitions work.
A general debate on the work of the Council of Europe is scheduled for Thursday 8 June in the House of Commons chamber. This debate, selected by the Backbench Business Committee, will be led by John Howell MP.