Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.
Sirens sound in large areas of occupied Palestine after a missile launch from Yemen was detected
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 14 martyrs arrive at al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli massacre of al-Sultan Family north of Gaza.

Human rights group: Dubai Expo 2020 a hotbed for labor exploitation

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Feb 2022 13:26
3 Min Read

A new human rights report details the exploitation of workers in the Gulf countries, particularly migrant workers in Dubai Expo 2020.

  • x
  • Human rights group: Expo 2020 a hotbed of labor exploitation
    The labor practices of the UAE are not a new topic of concern. (Reuters)

According to a new report by a human rights group, migrant workers in the multi-million dollar Dubai Expo 2020 are facing widespread exploitation and racial discrimination.

EquidemOrg, a labor rights consultancy that has previously investigated Expo workers' maltreatment during the epidemic, Tweeted that workers like security guards, bar staff, and cleaners reported paying illegal recruitment fees and have had their passports confiscated and salaries withheld.

"Human rights organisation @EquidemOrg in its latest report points out how racial discrimination at work, forced labour, illegal recruitment fees and migrant exploitation are a few of the ugly practices that line @expo2020dubai" https://t.co/OZvqgibitU

— Equidem.org (@EquidemOrg) February 2, 2022

According to Rory Sullivan for The Independent, interviews with nearly 70 labor workers confirmed that working conditions violated the own laws of the UAE, with illegal practices including retaining passports of employees and withholding wages.

Of those interviewed, 83% had to pay illegal recruitment fees and/or did not receive their full wages owed.

One resident from India who spoke on condition of anonymity said he was not fully paid for his work despite receiving assurances from his superiors. He added that employees are "treated like slaves."  Another anonymous worker reported a great deal of racial discrimination in the Expo.

Among those fired, Africans in particular were fired without compensation. According to The Independent, foreigners in the UAE outnumber the local population by nine to one. 

Mustafa Qadri, CEO of Equidem, says there is a great disconnection between the UAE's ambition to be modern and a global country and that if the exploitive practices at Dubai Expo 2020 are so widespread, one must question other forms of exploitation in the Emirates on a larger scale.

Related News

Post-colonial neoliberalism is reshaping Arab cities one by one

Flydubai airline preparing for resumption of flights to Syria

The Abu Dhabi government did not respond to a request for comment according to the Equidem report.

Construction worker deaths at Dubai Expo

In October, the UAE authorities gave conflicting figures over the number of workers killed on-site during the construction of the Dubai Expo 2020. Dubai first said five workers died during the construction and later on changed the toll to three.

Officials also said more than 70 workers sustained severe injuries on the construction site. However, the authorities insisted that the safety standards were "world-class".

Expo 2020 promises fairytale, delivers nightmare to workers

In December, The Washington Post reported that Dubai tainted its seemingly-immaculate image with very ugly poor working conditions.

According to Reuters, the UAE acknowledged in early September that it had detained and deported over 400 people for alleged human trafficking, assault, and extortion.

According to human rights groups, there have been constant violations due to the UAE's labor sponsorship system, which is based on a network of international subcontractors, binds employees' residency to employment, and gives businesses disproportionate authority.

In one case, over 80 individuals shared a single toilet. Many were stripped of passports and documents, rendering them unable to leave.

Insufficient food supply and long working hours were a repeated concern among workers when interviewed by the AP. 

A 40-year-old guard from Kenya says there is "no freedom. Work, sleep, work, sleep. You just need to try to survive one day to another.”

  • Dubai
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Expo 2020

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Israeli police and rescue teams respond at the scene of a shooting attack where several people killed and injured in Jerusalem, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (AP)

Al-Quds shooting: 7 settlers killed, several critically injured

  • Politics
  • 8 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

Pro-'Israel' far-right Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York, on Friday, September 27, 2024 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' stops unfunded diplomacy ahead of UN, October 7 memorial

An Israeli Air Force fighter jet releases flares over the Gaza Strip, is seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

OIC summit draft: Israeli attack on Qatar risks normalization

People shout slogans and hold Palestinian flags while protesting during the twenty-first stage of La Vuelta cycling race from Alalpardo to Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP)
Sports

Pro-Palestine protests force abrupt end to Vuelta a España finale

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime faces growing isolation over Qatar strike: Reports

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS