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LGBT people in Saudi Arabia face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents, and Saudi Arabia is considered to have one of the worst LGBT rights records in the world. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal. LGBT rights are not recognized by the government of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi social mores and laws are heavily influenced by Arab tribal customs and Wahhabi Islam.

Saudi Arabia has no criminal code. Traditionally, the legal system of Saudi Arabia has consisted of royal decrees and the legal rulings of Islamic judges and clerics, and is not based on legal codes and written law. Homosexuality and being transgender are widely seen as immoral and indecent activities, and the acts of homosexuality and cross-dressing are punished ranging from fines, floggings, to life in prison, death, and torture.

The Saudi government views cross-dressing as being prohibited under Islamic jurisprudence, and is therefore illegal. It does not allow people to obtain new legal documents to have their gender changed.

Family may feel obligated to kill an LGBT relative in order to restore the family honor within the community.

LGBT persons in Qatar face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, and prevailing cultural mores view homosexuality and cross-dressing negatively. The Qatari government does not recognize same-sex marriage or civil partnerships, nor does it allow people in Qatar to campaign for LGBT rights.

Article 296 of the current Penal Code (Law 11/2004) stipulates imprisonment between 1 and 3 years for sodomy between men. This is a slight revision of the original law that stipulated up to five years' imprisonment for male homosexuality.

Qatar does not allow sex change and cross-dressing is illegal too.

LGBT rights are heavily suppressed in the emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, Fujairah and Sharjah, which together form the United Arab Emirates. All sexual relations outside a heterosexual marriage is a crime. Punishments range from jail time, floggings, beatings, torture, death, fines and deportation if you are a non-citizen.

Abu Dhabi:

Article 80 of the Abu Dhabi Penal Code makes sodomy punishable by imprisonment of up to 14 years. Several news reports have revealed how the law is typically enforced. Cross-dressing is likewise illegal

Dubai:

Article 177 of the Penal Code of Dubaiimposes imprisonment up to 10 years on consensual sodomy. In 2008, two lesbian tourists were given a one-month jail sentence and then deported for engaging in public displays of affection while visiting a beach.

In the rest of the emirites homosexuality is punished by more than seven years imprisonment up to death.

In regards with gender identity, UAE does not allow immitating the opposite sex. In 2016, transgender Canadian model Gigi was detained at Dubai airport and deported because of her gender identity.

-Article 264 of the Penal Code (Homosexuality - Men):

“Homosexuality between men is defined as penetration into the anus. Unmarried men shall be punished with 100 lashes of the whip or a maximum of one year of imprisonment, married men with death by stoning.”

-Article 268 of the Penal Code (Homosexuality - Women):

“Homosexuality between women is defined as sexual stimulation by rubbing. The penalty for premeditated commission shall be up to three years of imprisonment; where the offence has been committed under duress, the perpetrator shall be punishable with up to seven years imprisonment.”

-Article 193 of the Penal Code punishes debauchery (which is interpreted by the courts to mean male homosexuality) with up to six years' imprisonment.

-Article 198 prohibits public immorality. In 2008, the law was expanded to also outlaw "imitating the appearance of a member of the opposite sex" with fines up to 1000 K.D and or up to one year imprisonment. Despite the abolishment of the clause regarding imitating the opposite sex by the Constitutional Court in 2022, authorities continue to prosecute transgender individuals under this law.

LGBT people living in Bahrain may face discrimination not faced by non-LGBT persons. Homosexuality and sexual transitioning is allowed in Bahrain. However, LGBT people there face punishments under other related laws, such as:

-Article 324 of the penal code prohibits enticing another person to commit prostitution or any other act that may be considered immoral. This particular law has increasingly been used to crack down on men who wear women's clothing, as well as gay and bisexual men. There have been recent reports of a possible comprehensive crackdown against same-sex sexual acts and cross-dressing in Bahrain.

-Article 329 of the penal code prohibits people from public solicitation involving prostitution or any sort of immoral activity. This applies even if sexual behavior is going to occur in a private place.

-In 2014, transgender poeple were allowed to undergo sex reassignment surgeries #SRS under conditions of being 'fully' transitioned before applying to change their official documents. These restrictions may delay transgender people from getting their official documents with the right gender on, for reasons such as the lack of funding or not them wanting to get all of these surgeries.

Update: 07/02/2024

In Bahrain, lawmakers have unanimously approved stringent legal measures targeting what they deem as "unnatural and perverted practices."

Under proposed amendments to Bahrain's Penal Code dating back to 1976, individuals engaging in homosexual acts would face a minimum sentence of six months in prison, alongside fines ranging from BD500 to BD2,000.

Furthermore, those found guilty of publicly endorsing, promoting, or justifying homosexuality could face even harsher penalties, including imprisonment for up to three years or fines ranging from BD1,000 to BD2,000, or both, if the measures are ratified.

In Iraq, LGBT+ individuals face pervasive discrimination despite the legalization of homosexuality in 2003. Openly gay men are barred from military service, and both same-sex marriage and civil unions remain illegal. Shockingly, there are no legal protections against discrimination for LGBT people, leaving them vulnerable to vigilante justice and honor killings.

The roots of this discrimination trace back to the strict sodomy laws enacted during British occupation, which perpetuated discrimination, harassment, and violence against the Iraqi LGBT community. Even after achieving independence, these laws persisted, contributing to the ongoing persecution faced by LGBT individuals.

Despite recent discussions about reforming sodomy laws, discrimination and violence against the LGBT community persist. The government's anti-LGBT stance, dating back to Iraq's independence in 1932, has only exacerbated the situation. IRCC Resolution 234 of 2001 even prescribed the death penalty for sodomy and homosexual acts, further intensifying the stigma and danger faced by LGBT individuals.

The AIDS-HIV pandemic in 1986 only exacerbated the situation, with widespread ignorance leading to the wrongful suspicion of homosexuals as carriers of the disease. Saddam Hussein's misguided response to the epidemic, including the forced relocation of individuals with HIV/AIDS, added another layer of persecution against the LGBT community.

Today, activist organizations in Iraq find themselves at a critical juncture, torn between advocating for tolerance within Iraqi society and prioritizing the safety and asylum of LGBT individuals. The journey towards equality and acceptance for the Iraqi LGBT community remains a daunting and ongoing struggle.