UAE president pardons Abdulrahman Al-Qaradawi convicted of cybercrimes

UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday issued a pardon for Abdulrahman Youssef Al-Qaradawi, who had been convicted of cybercrimes.

The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal found Al-Qaradawi guilty on August 27, 2026, sentencing him to ten years in prison and a fine of 200,000 dirhams.

Authorities have begun implementing the presidential pardon issued by Mohammed bin Zayed.

The UAE received Abdulrahman Al-Qaradawi from Lebanese authorities in January 2025, following a provisional arrest request submitted by the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Interior Ministers—Criminal Prosecution and Data Administration—at the request of UAE authorities, for acts deemed to disturb public order and security.