In October 2021, MENA Rights Group and other 10 NGOs urged Project Associates Ltd. to discontinue their relationship with the UAE government and Ahmad Al Raisi, the Inspector General of the Ministry of Interior, over concerns of the poor human rights record of the UAE, the continued abuses perpetrated by state security forces under Al Raisi’s leadership, and the multiple allegations of torture filed against him in France and the United Kingdom.

According to the letter, Project Associates, a UK- based advisory firm, was hired to promote Emirati official Ahmed Al Raisi's candidacy for the presidency of INTERPOL, despite previous concerns raised by numerous human rights organizations about Al Raisi's candidacy, "which undermines INTERPOL's mission, tarnishes the organization's reputation, and contradicts its commitment to professionalism and international human rights standards.".

The letter also states that by providing consulting services to Al Raisi, Project Associates is actively supporting the efforts of the UAE to conceal its record of human rights abuses and is advocating for a possible outcome in which INTERPOL, an international law enforcement organization, would be led by an individual credibly accused of torture.

Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited Project Associates to respond to the letter. We also asked the company to set out any steps they are taking in response. Project Associates did not respond.