The federal government is defending its decision to initiate negotiations for an extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates, pushing back against sharp warnings from civil society organizations over the Gulf nation’s human rights record.
The push for deeper legal cooperation follows the signing of a free-trade agreement in Ottawa last week during a visit by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, who met with Prime Minister Mark Carney. Alongside the trade deal, the two governments announced plans to launch discussions on both an extradition treaty and a mutual legal assistance treaty.
Civil society groups immediately raised alarms about the diplomatic overture. Amani Khalfan, a spokesperson for the social justice organization Inter Pares, questioned the message being sent by pursuing extradition and defense agreements with a nation facing serious human rights accusations.
Khalfan characterized the UAE’s record of unlawful and arbitrary detentions as “appalling.” She pointed to the case of Sudanese advocate Mohammed Farouk Salman Mahmoud, who spent more than a year and a half imprisoned in the UAE without formal charges. While local authorities maintained he was investigated for allegedly insulting the state’s head of state, Amnesty International confirmed his release on Aug. 22.
While the UAE has gained diplomatic standing for mediation efforts aimed at ending conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, it has simultaneously faced severe accusations regarding foreign policy. Abu Dhabi has been accused of backing a militia in Sudan implicated in genocide—allegations that the Emirati government denies.
“While we recognize that diversifying trade and investment is an important goal, it is clear that the UAE is supporting a militia that has carried out genocide, and continues to do so,” Khalfan said. “In the context of such massacres, prioritizing economic partnerships over human rights means that Canada is at risk of seeking blood money in the UAE.”
In response to the criticism, Kwame Bonsu, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice, argued that reinforcing international partnerships to investigate, prosecute, and prevent serious crime is essential for domestic security. Bonsu stated that an extradition treaty would assist in bringing individuals wanted for serious offenses, such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and cybercrime, to justice.
Bonsu noted that the UAE has established successful extradition and mutual legal assistance partnerships with numerous nations that share Canada’s approach, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, France, Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands, making it an appropriate time to accept Abu Dhabi’s invitation to negotiate.
A mutual legal assistance treaty would further support cross-border efforts by facilitating the exchange of evidence and legal cooperation in criminal proceedings, according to the Department of Justice.
Under Canadian law, an extradition agreement enables one country to request the surrender of a person accused of crimes. The federal extradition framework involves three main stages: the justice minister must issue an authority to proceed, Canadian courts must determine if sufficient evidence exists to justify surrender, and the minister must issue a final surrender order, which can subsequently be challenged through judicial review or appeal.
Federal guidelines mandate that the conduct underpinning an extradition request must be considered criminal in both jurisdictions. Furthermore, the Extradition Act obligates the justice minister to reject surrender orders deemed unjust or oppressive, or if the underlying request targets an individual based on race, religion, or nationality. The legislation also permits the minister to refuse extradition if the alleged offense carries the death penalty in the requesting state.
Ketty Nivyabandi, secretary general of Amnesty International Canada’s English-speaking section, echoed these anxieties in an email, citing the UAE’s “disturbing” human rights profile.
“Amnesty International has documented grossly unfair mass trials, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances in the UAE, including the disappearance of poet Abdul Rahman Al-Qaradawi following his extradition in 2025,” Nivyabandi said, adding that global research correlates enforced disappearances with torture.
Nivyabandi cautioned against relying on diplomatic assurances from foreign governments, arguing that such promises fail to guarantee protection from abuse or relieve Canada of its legal obligations. “If these talks move forward, Canadian officials must proceed with extreme caution and, ultimately, should not enter into an agreement unless and until they have evidence and full confidence that human rights will be upheld,” she said.
Earlier this year, an open letter signed by 17 civil society organizations warned Ottawa against deepening institutional ties with the UAE, arguing that the nation is actively contributing to the ongoing conflict in Sudan and urging the government to prioritize human rights in its trade diversification strategy.
The diplomatic engagement follows Prime Minister Carney’s visit to the UAE last year, where officials advanced a $1-billion project to expand critical minerals processing capacity in Canada, supported by a projected $70 billion investment pledge from the UAE. The Prime Minister’s Office indicated that last week’s visit by the crown prince yielded significant headway on those investment commitments.
