A video published by Emirati activist Omar al-Balushi, in which he alleged widespread “radicalisation” among Muslims in Europe and Britain, has sparked controversy across social media.
British Middle East researcher Andreas Krieg responded mockingly, arguing that al-Balushi’s messaging forms part of a wider network of Emirati influencers promoting Abu Dhabi’s narrative about Muslims in the West.
In a sarcastic response, Krieg said videos produced by what he described as “UAE disinformation influencers” were increasingly beginning to resemble sketches by the British comedy group Monty Python. He added that there were now plenty of artificial intelligence bots capable of reading AI-generated scripts more convincingly.
Al-Balushi had claimed in an English-language video that “large parts of the Muslim community” in Europe and Britain were being “quietly radicalised”.
He argued that the issue was not confined to a single organisation, but involved what he described as a “network” operating through mosques, charities, universities, schools and community centres.
Al-Balushi further alleged that this network promotes ideas that demean Western women and reject liberal democracy as incompatible with its understanding of Islam, while simultaneously using democratic systems to gain access to political positions in local councils, mayoralties and parliament.
He also linked what he described as the “isolation” of some sections of Britain’s Muslim community to deliberate teachings that portray Western society as corrupt and call for resistance from within.
He concluded by claiming that the phenomenon was “spreading at a faster pace” and should be treated as a growing threat.
Emirati Support and British Mockery
The video received support from Emirati journalist Mona al-Hammadi, who said al-Balushi’s claims should be taken seriously.
She argued that extremism “rarely begins with violence”, but instead starts with ideas that normalise contempt, division and rejection of the society in which a person lives.
Al-Hammadi added that portraying Western society as inherently corrupt and calling for resistance from within represented “warning signs”.
She called for a balance between protecting freedom of belief and confronting ideologies that use religion to promote isolation, hostility and extremism.
Krieg’s response comes within the broader context of his previous criticism of Emirati messaging directed at Western audiences.
Over recent years, he has published several articles and studies examining what he describes as Abu Dhabi’s attempts to influence European debates surrounding Islam, Muslims and Muslim communities.
Al-Balushi’s remarks also do not stand apart from a broader Emirati discourse that has intensified in recent years, placing opposition to “political Islam”, and increasingly Muslim communities themselves, at the centre of Abu Dhabi’s foreign policy and media messaging.
‘Abu Dhabi Secrets’ and Covert Influence Operations
A previous international investigation known as “Abu Dhabi Secrets” revealed a large covert campaign carried out by Swiss private intelligence firm Alp Services on behalf of parties linked to the UAE.
The investigation triggered political and legal controversy in Europe after revealing that the campaign went beyond intelligence gathering and included attempts to damage the reputations of individuals and institutions and shape how they were viewed by journalists and policymakers.
Documents from the investigation showed that Alp Services received millions of euros from Emirati-linked entities during the period in which its operations were conducted.
Krieg has previously argued that Abu Dhabi exploited Western fears surrounding Islam to present “political Islam” as a broad category encompassing widely different movements.
He said Emirati messaging contributed to blurring distinctions between peaceful Islamic political activism and jihadist organisations.
According to Krieg, networks linked to the UAE made use of researchers, journalists, think tanks and political figures to promote a narrative portraying the Muslim Brotherhood as a conspiratorial network seeking to dominate Europe.
He described this as part of a broader campaign aimed at reshaping European debate about Islam and Muslims.
Overlap With the European Right
More recent reports have also pointed to an overlap of interests between Abu Dhabi and some right-wing platforms and political figures in Europe.
In January 2026, French intelligence publication Intelligence Online reported that it had reviewed documents showing discussions over possible cooperation between the Visegrád 24 platform and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the report, the proposed cooperation was intended to support the Emirati narrative around confronting “radical Islam” in the West.
Visegrád 24 is influential within sections of the European right and has recently been associated with coverage favourable to right-wing political movements and figures, including British Reform Party leader Nigel Farage and French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella.
Intelligence Online said the growing relationship with Abu Dhabi was not limited to the platform itself, but coincided with meetings and ties in which both Farage and Bardella demonstrated closer engagement with the UAE.
In another example, Visegrád 24 published material attacking what it described as “radical Islam” while presenting the UAE as a model for confronting such movements.
Among that material was an interview with naturalised Emirati activist Amjad Taha, who attacked the presence of Muslim communities in European cities.
