Amazon says it’s doing business in UAE

Homosexuality is illegal in the UAE -- it is one of 69 countries in the world where being gay is criminalised.

The news comes as Pride Month, which is dedicated to celebrating LGBT people around the world, comes to a close.

As a company, we're committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and we believe that the rights of LGBTQ people must be protected, a company spokeswoman told the BBC.

They said that they must also be aware of local laws and regulations of the countries in which we operate with Amazon stores around the world.

The company made a decision to restrict searches after being threatened with penalties by the UAE government, according to the New York Times, which first reported the story.

The Kuwait foreign ministry said earlier this month it summoned a top US diplomat in protest of tweets from the American embassy supporting LGBT rights.

In Kuwait, the rights for LGBT people are severely restricted and it is illegal for men to be gay.