Yemen

In the United Arab Emirates, a new federal criminal code enacted in early 2022 criminalized consensual same-sex relations with up to six months in prison. Article 409 of the same law applies to sex between unmarried different-sex partners. Charges can only be filed on the basis of a complaint by a spouse or guardian. While Article 7 of the United Arab Emirates’ constitution officially adopts Shariah as “a main source of legislation,” Shariah penalties do not appear to apply to same-sex relationships, which are among the categories of offenses that are only regulated by the criminal code.

Diverse gender expressions are criminalized, with Article 412 of the criminal code penalizing “any man who disguises himself as a woman to enter a woman-only space.” This provision, which was also in the 1987 version of the criminal code, has been used by authorities to prosecute trans women and gender nonconforming people. State laws in several states further criminalize same-sex intimacy and gender nonconformity.

The United Arab Emirates has, in several instances, banned media content that positively portrays same-sex relationships. Article 35(4) of the 2012 Law on Combating Cybercrimes prohibited the condoning, provoking, or promoting of sin through any means of information technology. This law was replaced by the 2021 Law on Countering Rumors and Cybercrimes, which retained a similar provision as Article 37(4). Education professionals are forbidden from “discussing gender identity, homosexuality, or any other behavior deemed unacceptable to the UAE’s society.”

Article 317 of the criminal code imposes five to ten years of imprisonment for establishing, organizing, or administering any association whose purpose runs contrary to the teachings of Islam. No formal LGBTIQ advocacy organizations are known to exist openly, as extensive censorship and the restrictive legal and societal context render LGBTIQ advocacy nearly impossible. This hostile environment also forces sexual and gender minorities to keep their identities private, and online self-censorship is common.

In 2025, Armenian trans activist Lilit Martirosyan was detained and subjected to prolonged questioning and denial of services during a layover at Dubai International Airport, reportedly told she could not enter because of her gender identity despite only being in transit, highlighting how discrimination based on gender identity can manifest in immigration and travel settings. At the same time, openly gay Australian world champion surfer Tyler Wright announced she would compete in an Abu Dhabi event only after receiving assurances from organizers that she would be in a “safe environment,” underscoring that people of queer experience, including visitors and athletes, must seek special guarantees to avoid risk. Ordinary citizens and residents, including migrant workers, benefit from no such guarantees and face a constant threat of arrest.