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UAE to release over 900 Indian prisoners in humanitarian gesture ahead of National Day

The United Arab Emirates is set to release more than 900 Indian nationals from correctional facilities across the country, following a humanitarian directive issued by the UAE leadership in late November 2025.

TAS News Service

info@thearabianstories.com

Friday, January 23, 2026

Dubai: According to Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the embassy has received an official list of Indian prisoners scheduled for release as part of the initiative. The directive was announced ahead of the UAE’s 54th Eid Al Etihad celebrations, which coincide with National Day on December 2 and commemorate the 1971 unification of the seven emirates.

The release was ordered by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who directed the freeing of several inmates across the country as part of a broader humanitarian effort. In addition to the releases, the UAE leadership has committed to covering financial penalties, including fines or compensation imposed on the inmates as part of their sentences.

Officials said the move aims to ease the financial burden on families and support the reintegration of those released into society.

The decision reflects the UAE’s long-standing commitment to humanitarian values and adds to a series of goodwill gestures extended towards Indian nationals. The UAE hosts one of the world’s largest Indian diasporas, with over 3.5 million Indian citizens living and working in the country.

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