President Barack Obama welcomed the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, to the White House on Tuesday, despite criticism from human rights groups over the recent crackdown on dissidents across the United Arab Emirates. Several prominent Emirati human rights activists and academics have been arrested over the past month, including Ahmed Mansoor, who has been held since April 8. Mansoor has been a leading proponent of a petition submitted last month demanding democratic reforms. The UAE is also facing criticism for recently dissolving the Jurist Association, a legal organization that has backed the reform movement. The UAE, a federation of seven emirates headed by ruling families, does not allow direct elections or political parties. It is the world’s third-largest oil exporter. President Obama issued no statement on Tuesday about the human rights situation in the UAE.