Dubai ruler and UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was confronted by a Sudanese man while walking through London’s upscale Knightsbridge area, with the protester accusing the UAE of involvement in Sudan’s devastating war.
A video circulating online shows the man shouting at Sheikh Mohammed and members of his entourage from across the road.
“Emiratis and UAE, they’re killing Sudanese people,” the man can be heard saying before adding: “UAE is killing people in my country. Stop killing my people.”
The footage, reportedly recorded on August 9, shows the confrontation escalating when a man believed to be part of Sheikh Mohammed’s entourage responds with profanity and an alleged racial slur before moving towards the protester.
The incident has since gained significant attention online, particularly because of the longstanding controversy surrounding alleged UAE support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
UAE denies supporting RSF
The UAE has repeatedly denied allegations that it provides military support to the RSF and has rejected claims linking it to atrocities committed during Sudan’s conflict.
The war began in April 2023 when fighting erupted between Sudan’s Armed Forces and the RSF. The conflict has killed and displaced large numbers of civilians and triggered a major humanitarian crisis.
The UAE’s alleged role in the conflict has nevertheless remained the subject of international scrutiny, with reports and investigations alleging arms transfers and other forms of support to the RSF.
The confrontation in London comes amid continuing international pressure over the conflict, as Sudanese civilians and activists accuse foreign powers of helping fuel the war.
No official statement from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid or the UAE government specifically addressing the London confrontation was identified in the sources reviewed.