James Lynch, head of business and human rights of Amnesty International, was banned from entering the UAE on Tuesday as he was en route to a conference in Dubai, a statement released by Amnesty said on Wednesday.
At the airport, the activist was forced to book a flight back to the UK without being given any justification as to why he had to leave the country.
An Emirati official declined to comment on the matter.
"By preventing human rights groups from engaging the region's business leaders on migrant workers' rights, the UAE authorities are simply continuing to brush this urgent issue under the carpet in the hope nobody will notice," Lynch said in the statement.
The Amnesty's regional chief Said Boumedouha said, "What is the UAE so desperately trying to hide? This shocking move will only further damage the country's reputation, one they are so keen to protect," he said, media reports.
