The continued listing comes as Senate Democrats are scrutinizing US-UAE AI technology deals and investigating UAE-related investments in US President Donald Trump's crypto ventures, amid a campaign to ban arms sales to the UAE over its support for the Rapid Support Force (RSF), a militia the UN says has been operating in Sudan.
This development highlights the growing influence of the Emirati lobby, which All-Relations describes as "one of the most extensive and connected foreign influence operations in Washington." ".
A Sudan News investigation published in January 2025 found that, according to FARA documents, lobbying activity on behalf of the UAE increased after December 2023 following a letter from ten House Democrats calling on the UAE to end its support for RSF.
According to a 2026 report by the Financial Times, the UAE has spent over $270 million lobbying Washington in the past decade.
A classified US intelligence report from 2022 raised concerns about Emirates lobbying, saying it "aims to exploit vulnerabilities in the US government".