The UK Government is in the process of finalising a trade agreement with countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. In December, Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit Saudi Arabia to push for the trade deal and boost domestic investment.

In response, human rights organisations and civil society, including Human Rights Watch and the Trade Justice Movement, have said the trade agreement risks furthering human rights abuse in the region.

In December 2024, the Trade Justice Movement released a policy brief, “The Case against a UK Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council”. The brief argues entering into a trade agreement with the GCC would “fly in the face of public opinion, offer few projected benefits, and send a worrying message about the priorities of the UK’s trade policy when it comes to human rights and climate”.

The policy brief highlights an “extremely low” level of support for trade talks with the GCC, likely reflecting concerns relating to the region’s human rights record. This includes limited press and religious freedom, limits on political participation and the retention of the death penalty, the criminalisation of same-sex relationships, and severe restrictions on workers’ rights, particularly for migrants.

The policy brief also emphasises that there is little chance the deal will contain provisions that could positively influence human rights in the region. There are similar concerns regarding risks the deal may undermine climate action, as the region has historically been unengaged with efforts to combat the climate crises.

The policy brief also emphasises little benefits to the trade deal, including limited impact on UK GDP.

Human Rights Watch similarly released an op-ed detailing how the trade agreement risks contributing to human rights abuse in the region, including the worst forms of forced labour experienced by migrant workers. It argues the UK should insist a trade agreement includes reforms to human rights. Without this, the UK risks "becoming complicit in abuse".