Al Islah (United Arab Emirates)

Al Islah was an Islamist group based in the United Arab Emirates that was highly affiliated and considered part of the Muslim Brotherhood.^[1] The political group was banned and was designated as a terrorist group after attempting to form a military wing for a coup d'état against the government.

Al Islah has origins in the UAE dating back to the 1960s when Egyptian Brotherhood members fleeing Gamal Abdul Nasser’s regime traveled to the Persian Gulf region.^[2] It was officially formed in 1974 when with the approval of Dubai ruler, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed al-Maktoum,^[2] Egyptian teachers who were members of the Muslim Brotherhood came to work in the UAE and began to recruit young Emiratis.^[3] Ali Salem Humaid, chairman of Dubai based think-tank, the Al Mezmaah Centre for Studies and Research, has stated that the recruited young students, "operated secretly through front organizations like mafia-style gangs, money-laundering and espionage rings."^[4] The group continued to build influence in the 1970s and 1980s, serving in high posts in the education and justice sectors.^[2] The work and activities of Al Islah have been directly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.^[5]

Al Islah was legally dissolved in 1994 by the UAE government after an investigation that revealed it was supporting militant groups in Egypt.^[6]

Al Islah has stated that it shares ideology with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.^[5] Al Islah has attacked the UAE for the country’s religious tolerance and sanctioning of community churches that have been part of the UAE since prior to the formation of the state.^[7] They have also stated their strategic objective as to seize power and establish a religious government.^[8] Since its formation, its members have promoted several measures limiting the rights of women, and sought to impose strict controls on social issues.^[9][10] Muslim Brotherhood member Tharwat Kherbawi said the Muslim Brotherhood finds the present UAE government to be an impediment, and the country itself to be a treasure and a crucial strategic and economic prize.^[11]

Al Islah was a UAE-based organization that is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood in other countries.^[12] It had reportedly received $3.67 million in funding from a Muslim Brotherhood organization outside the UAE and coordinated activities with three Muslim Brotherhood organizations in other Arab countries.^[8][13] Former Al Islah member, Ali Rashid Al Noaimi, the Vice Chancellor of United Arab Emirates University, said Al Islah, "get their orders from outside," and "they are not loyal to their country."^[11]

Al Islah has been reported to have been “secretly conducting military recruitment” that has “sought to recruit retired military officers and young Emiratis! for an alleged “coup attempt! and the “establishment of an Islamist state in the UAE”.^[13][14] Members of Al Islah have denied reports that it has set up an “armed wing”. The UAE's state prosecutor has charged members of Al Islah with “violating state security”, having “links to foreign organizations” and “insulting the political leadership”.^[15]

In January 2013, it was alleged that Al Islah and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt were undertaking efforts to infiltrate and destabilize the United Arab Emirates. In a joint police operation by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, 11 Egyptian expatriates in the UAE were arrested on charges of “subversion, stealing state secrets” and “operating under the influence of—and sending large amounts of money to—the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood”. The men are accused of belonging to a "cell seeking to overthrow the UAE government,” with the intention of “exporting the influence of Egypt's new Islamist-dominated political order”.^[11]

In March 2013, a trial began in Abu Dhabi for 94 individuals linked to Al Islah for an “attempted coup”.^[16] The opening day of the trial consisted of a procedural hearing, informing defendants of their rights and the charges filed against them.^[17] The hearing was attended by Emirati civil society groups and representatives of the local press.^[18] Some human rights organizations have spoken out against the secrecy of the trials. An Emirati, whose father is among the defendants, was arrested for tweeting about the trial. On April 8, 2013, he was sentenced to 10 months in jail.^[19]

On July 2, 2013 a verdict was issued in the trial of the 94 individuals. Of the 94, 56 suspects received prison sentences ranging between three and ten years. Eight suspects were sentenced in absentia to 15 years in jail and 26 were acquitted.^[20] Al Islah was subsequently dissolved.

On 7 March 2014 the Muslim Brotherhood was branded a terrorist group by the UAE government.^[21]

On August 2, 2024, Emirates News Agency reported that investigations led by the Public Prosecution of United Arab Emirates had uncovered a secret organization operating outside the U.A.E which was actively trying to resurrect Al Islah. The new organization was formed by 2 members of Al Islah who were previously sentenced in absentia in 2013 and remain fugitive.^[22][23]

• Hassan al Diqqi, the group's co-founder