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.

The Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill 2019-2021 was introduced in the House of Commons in March 2020. It was introduced in the House Lords unamended in November 2020. The Lords made a number of amendments and now the Bill is in a period of ping pong. The Commons will consider the latest Lords amendments on 27 April 2021. This paper has been updated accordingly.
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill 2019-2021: Lords amendments (167 KB , PDF)
The purpose of the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill is to protect service personnel and veterans from legal action relating to overseas operations. It would raise the threshold for bringing prosecutions, including introducing a presumption against prosecution after five years for alleged offences committed during overseas operations; it would create a hard time limit for civil and Human Rights Act claims; and it would require the Government to consider derogating from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in relation to significant overseas operations.
The Bill was unamended in its initial stages in the Commons but was subsequently amended in the House of Lords. The Commons considered those Lords amendments (Bill 189) on 21 April 2021.
The Bill was considered again in the House of Lords on 26 April 2021. A period of ‘ping pong’ will now commence with the Commons considering the Bill (HCB293) again on 27 April 2021.
For further background and commentary on the Bill’s provisions see Library Briefing Papers:
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill 2019-21
Has anything changed in the Overseas Operations Bill?: Committee Stage Report
Lords consideration – 26 April 2021
Commons consideration – 21 April 2021
Lords amendments
A number of amendments were made to the Bill at Report stage in the House of Lords, including:
Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill 2019-2021: Lords amendments (167 KB , PDF)
This briefing provides an introduction to UAE politics, human rights, trade, and international relations. It also signposts further reading.
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.
This briefing provides an introduction to Qatari politics, human rights, trade, and international relations. It also signposts further reading.