Nigel Farage Made Dubai Trip to Woo British Expats and Meet UAE Ministers
DUBAI — Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has reportedly held meetings with senior UAE officials and courted British expatriates during a recent visit to Dubai, underlining the deepening relationship between Abu Dhabi and Europe’s populist right.
According to UK media reports, Farage was hosted by the United Arab Emirates during a two-day trip in December valued at approximately £10,000, which included attendance at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He has since returned to the Gulf state for a second visit in as many months.
During his most recent stay, Farage said he took part in a “very good interview” with an unnamed Emirati minister in Dubai. The event was attended by UAE Industry Minister and ADNOC chief Sultan Al-Jaber, according to The Guardian.
Also present were former UK cabinet minister Nadhim Zahawi and media investor Paul Marshall, the owner of GB News, where Farage is a prominent presenter. The gathering coincided with celebrations marking the broadcaster’s fifth anniversary, which were also held in Dubai.
Farage, who leads Reform UK, has used his UAE visits to engage with British expatriates, a demographic often highlighted in right-wing narratives portraying the Gulf as a safer and lower-tax alternative to life in the UK. He claimed that many expats he met would consider returning home under a Reform UK government.
“There’s loads of expats here,” Farage said. “Many of them would like to come back to the UK if there were lower taxes and less crime.”
His comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the UAE’s efforts to influence Western policy debates, particularly around political Islam. Abu Dhabi has banned the Muslim Brotherhood and detained dozens of activists accused of links to the group. Farage has said he would designate the Brotherhood as a terrorist organization if elected — a move successive UK governments have declined to take.
Reports have also suggested that Farage has explored areas of mutual political interest with UAE leaders, including financing and shared opposition to political Islam, as Abu Dhabi continues lobbying efforts across Europe.
Farage is currently campaigning in Manchester ahead of a key by-election, as Reform UK seeks to convert rising poll numbers into parliamentary gains.
Source: The New Arab