Mohamed bin Zayed has been the de facto leader of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2014, and the federation's President since 2022. 

Bin Zayed, or MbZ, has presided over a massive centralisation of power into the hands of the Abu Dhabi elite, and particularly his ruling family, the al-Nahyans. This has helped to construct an image of the UAE as being orderly, stable and dependable for global powers.

However, this image hides a dreadful human rights record in the UAE, characterised by coercion, harassment, renunciation of citizenship, and torture. In addition, the UAE have used these methods of repression against foreigners. One such person is my guest today. 

He is Matthew Hedges. Matthew is a British academic and author of Reinventing the Sheikhdom, which details the methods by which Mohamed bin Zayed has brought the state under his control. In May 2018, whilst researching the book, Matthew was prevented from boarding his flight at Abu Dhabi International, detained, and subjected to torture for the next six months. His story is horrifying, but fascinating, and reveals a great deal about the UK-UAE relationship.