UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a presidential pardon on Friday, September 4, 2026, for Abdul Rahman Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, who had been convicted by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal on August 27, 2026 and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment and a fine of AED200,000. The necessary procedures to implement the pardon have been initiated.
Al-Qaradawi is an Egyptian poet and political activist, and the son of the late Islamic scholar Yusuf Al-Qaradawi. He came to prominence through his opposition to former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and was a visible figure during the 2011 uprising in Egypt.
He was involved in Mohamed ElBaradei’s political campaign and later backed Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh’s 2012 presidential bid. His poetry has consistently engaged with political and social themes.
No further details about the charges were made public.
