In recent years, a growing body of investigative reporting has raised serious questions about the United Arab Emirates’ alleged role in covert influence operations across Europe. According to leaked documents, journalistic investigations, and parliamentary discussions, the UAE is accused of financing secret smear campaigns and political activities that have disproportionately targeted Islam, Muslim communities, and individuals associated—sometimes tenuously or falsely—with political Islam.
At the center of these allegations are documents linked to the European Parliament and investigative findings published by media outlets such as Mediapart and the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) network. Together, they paint a picture of a sophisticated, multi-country operation aimed at reshaping public perception of Islam in Europe and influencing political outcomes.
The Smear Campaign Allegations
One of the most significant revelations stems from leaked files connected to Alp Services, a private intelligence firm based in Geneva and run by Mario Brero. According to EIC’s 2023 investigation, Alp Services was contracted by an Emirati-linked entity, Ariaf Studies and Research, between 2017 and 2020. During this period, the firm allegedly received more than €5.7 million to conduct what investigators describe as an extensive disinformation and smear operation across at least 18 European countries.
The stated objective of these operations, according to the leaked documents, was to identify and discredit individuals and organizations allegedly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood—an Islamist movement the UAE considers a national security threat. However, critics argue that the campaign went far beyond counterterrorism, ensnaring journalists, academics, mosques, civil society groups, and ordinary Muslim activists with no proven ties to extremism.
Databases reportedly compiled by Alp Services listed more than 1,000 individuals and over 400 organizations, many of which were labeled as “Islamist” or “Brotherhood-affiliated” without substantiated evidence. These labels were then circulated among policymakers, media figures, and security institutions, sometimes resulting in reputational damage, loss of employment, financial de-banking, or heightened surveillance.
Several victims have spoken publicly about the consequences. In some cases, mosques were accused of extremist links, journalists were portrayed as covert Islamist sympathizers, and Muslim civic organizations were framed as security threats. Critics argue that these narratives contributed to a broader climate of suspicion toward Muslims, reinforcing the idea of an “enemy within” and feeding existing Islamophobic discourse in Europe.
Targeting Public Opinion and Policy
Observers note that these alleged operations coincided with a period of increasing restrictions on Muslim religious expression in several European countries. Policies such as mosque closures, bans on religious attire, and increased scrutiny of Muslim charities gained traction during the same timeframe.
While direct causation is difficult to prove, analysts argue that sustained disinformation campaigns can shape public debate over time—particularly when they are amplified by sympathetic media outlets, think tanks, or political actors. The concern, according to civil liberties groups, is that foreign-funded narratives may have influenced democratic decision-making under the guise of security.
Alleged Political Financing in France
Parallel to the smear campaign allegations are investigations into potential UAE-linked financial support for far-right political movements in Europe, most notably in France. A 2019 investigation by Mediapart revealed that Marine Le Pen’s party, Rassemblement National (formerly Front National), received an €8 million loan that reportedly prevented the party from collapsing financially after the 2017 presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to the investigation, the funds were transferred via a financial institution based in Abu Dhabi and routed through intermediaries. While no definitive legal ruling has established that the money came directly from the UAE government, the transaction raised alarms due to French laws prohibiting foreign financing of political parties.
The controversy is amplified by Rassemblement National’s openly anti-Islam platform. The party has advocated policies including bans on the abaya in schools, restrictions on hijabs in public spaces, limits on the call to prayer, legal actions against mosques, and sharp reductions in Muslim immigration. Critics argue that financial support—direct or indirect—for such a party aligns uncomfortably with the UAE’s regional campaign against political Islam.
French authorities have reportedly examined aspects of the funding arrangements, though investigations remain complex and politically sensitive.
Geopolitics, Islam, and Influence
The UAE maintains that its actions target extremism rather than Islam itself. However, human rights advocates and affected individuals argue that the practical impact of these operations has been to stigmatize Muslim identity broadly, rather than address specific security threats.
The controversy also highlights wider geopolitical rivalries in the Middle East, particularly between the UAE and Qatar, spilling into European political and media spaces. Analysts warn that Europe has become an arena for proxy information wars, with Muslim communities often caught in the crossfire.
While many of the allegations against the UAE remain under legal and journalistic scrutiny, the volume and consistency of investigative reporting have intensified calls for transparency, accountability, and stronger safeguards against foreign interference. The claims raise fundamental questions about sovereignty, democratic integrity, and the ethical limits of counter-extremism strategies.
As court cases, parliamentary inquiries, and journalistic investigations continue, one issue remains central: whether combating extremism can ever justify covert campaigns that risk criminalizing religious identity and undermining social cohesion. For Europe’s Muslim communities, the answer carries profound consequences—not just for political debate, but for civil rights, trust, and belonging itself.
