The rulers of the United Arab Emirates have granted royal pardons to 440 Bangladeshi prisoners on the occasion of the country’s 54th National Day, also known as Eid Al Etihad, in 2025.
According to a press release issued by the UAE Embassy on Wednesday, the pardons were part of a broader clemency initiative under which thousands of inmates from different nationalities were released across the UAE to mark Union Day; one of the largest such initiatives in recent years.
The move reflects the UAE’s long-standing tradition of extending mercy on major national and religious occasions.
UAE leaders regularly announce royal pardons during events such as Eid festivals and National Day, aimed at promoting forgiveness, family reunification and social reintegration.
The embassy noted that similar pardon initiatives carried out in late 2025 benefited thousands of prisoners of various nationalities, including Bangladeshi citizens, offering them an opportunity to start anew.
The gesture underscores the UAE leadership’s humanitarian values and commitment to allowing pardoned individuals to rebuild their lives and reunite with their families and communities.
Eid Al Etihad, observed annually on December 2, marks the historic unification of the emirates in 1971 under a single national flag.
Earlier, on January 11, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan pardoned 25 Bangladeshi nationals who had been convicted for participating in demonstrations in the UAE during the July 2024 uprising in Bangladesh.
The pardon followed a formal request from Bangladesh government seeking clemency for its citizens.
All 25 individuals have since been pardoned and returned to Bangladesh, according to the release.
The expatriate Bangladeshis were detained at different times in the UAE in connection with the events surrounding the July 2024 uprising.
SH
