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The Nation of Wadiya

In General

All Muslims Are Arab: Defied. They country itself is a parody of Real Life Muslim nations, but it is located in North Africa.
Ambiguously Brown: It's not super clear just which ethnicity Aladeen and the Wadiyans are supposed to be if he's not Arab, even if they have (or at least Arabic-sounding) names. In Real Life, many Muslims do speak Arabic (and have Arab names) even if they are not Arabs themselves. For what it's worth, Aladeen's actor is ethnically Ashekenazi Jewish, Nadal's is Greek and Tamir's is British-Indian.
Crapsack World: A recurring part of it's history.
- Wadiya is so worthless that the European colonial powers all played hot potato with one another for the ownership of the country because none of them wanted the hassle of actually running it. First the Italians claimed it, but they then they traded it to the Swiss for a truckload of cheese, who then outright bribed Imperial Germany to take it off their hands. The Germans then had to trick the people of Wadiya into declaring independence to be rid of it.
- In the current year, Wadiya is ruled by a Royal Brat with a complex who thinks that because he oppresses them, the Wadiyans are indebted to him.
The Dictatorship: The Republic of Wadiya in is a North African nation that is under the undemocratic rule of Admiral General Shabazz Aladeen. He is presented as a narcissistic and buffoonish madman with complete unchecked power over his nation. He constantly gives himself titles and awards he didn't earn, has had his people unpersoned at his leisure (though they are usually sent to America as immigrants without him knowing), is racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic to the point where he uses giving women and minorities the right to vote as points against democracy, has aspirations of eliminating Israel because he hates Jews so much and has an odd habit of changing random words in the Wadiyan dictionary to "Aladeen". Even when he is convinced to make his country into a democracy in the end by his love interest, he has his military "convince" the unwashed masses to vote for him as their President-Prime Minister.
Fantasy Counterpart Culture: It's clearly a parallel to the Middle East and North Africa, though if it's based on one country in particular, its likely Eritrea based on it's geographical location and lack of media access. However, it appears to have buildings based off the Taj Mahal, which could imply some Indian influence as well.
Middle Eastern Terrorists:
- While the Wadiyans don't engage in any known terrorism, Aladeen is buddies with Osama Bin Laden. However, this friendship is tested when bin Laden "brings a new definition of terrorism" to Aladeen's bathroom.
- Aladeen, on the other hand....

Aladeen

Admiral General Aladeen, General Colonel Doctor Aladeen, Democratic President-For-Life, Invincible and All-Triumphant Commander, Chief Ophthalmologist, Brilliant Genius of Humanity, Excellent Swimmer Including Butterfly, and Beloved Oppressor and Ruthless Protector of the Precious and Expendable People of Wadiya, Prime Minister Haffaz Aladeen, Allison Burgers

Played by: Sacha Baron Cohen, Liam Campora (young)^{Other languages}Mario Filio (Latin Spanish)

The main character of the movie. As the name implies, he is a Dictator, and a Spoiled Brat at that too. From cradle to adulthood, he has been showered with attention and praise as the greatest thing to ever happen to Wadiya, which he internalizes to no end. When Aladeen loses his status and is thrust into the real world, he's in for a shock.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/aladeen.png

^{Without beard}

0% Approval Rating: Aladeen, among other world leaders and countries. His approval in Wadiya may not be 50%, but based on the crowd scenes, it's certainly not zero.
Actually Pretty Funny: Aladeen is initially enraged that his idiot body double is making him look like a fool in front of the UN and the entire world. However, after the double pours a pitcher of urine over the head of the Israeli ambassador, Aladeen admits that's actually a good one.
Arab Oil Sheikh: Aladeen, although not an Arab (or so he claims) and not an actual sheikh, is really ostentatious in his displays of wealth and has the requisite Middle Eastern flavour. Wadiya is also said to have 'Unlimited oil wealth'.
Asshole Victim: Aladeen is the victim of an assassination attempt, but given how he treats the Wadiyan people, some may see it as justified.
The Bad Guy Wins: Aladeen defeats his uncle for betraying him, but the ending falls under this trope on account of Aladeen being a Villain Protagonist who never undergoes a complete Heel–Face Turn, and instead continues oppressing his country afterwards. It's notable that his main opponent was also evil though, as he was simply trying to sell the country to the highest bidders for its oil resources. The real sufferers in this case are the Wadiyan people.
Babies Ever After: Zoey is revealed to be pregnant during the credits. Subverted in that Aladeen makes it clear he will kill the child if it turns out to be a girl.
Beard of Evil: Aladeen, he becomes milder after he loses it, but goes back to the same old oppressive routines once he gets a new one.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Before ordering Nadal's execution, Aladeen smiles and reassures him. He then makes a neck-slitting motion to his guards, who haul the poor scientist off to his fate.
Bisexual: In a twist of Dramatic Irony, the dictator of the conservative, anti-gay Wadiya is bisexual, being attracted to both women and underage boys. His attraction to Zoey stems from the fact that, in his opinion, she resembles a boy.
Blatant Lies: Shabazz's propaganda about himself is full of this. For example, read his biography.
Black Comedy Rape:
Aladeen: "You have a center for rape here? Great! I'd love to go! Maybe another time, you know. Hire a limo, have some cocktails, bring my raping shoes."
Bodyguard Babes: Aladeen is protected by a group of female bodyguards. They also act as a Paid Harem, judging from their behavior with the body double.
Body Double:
- Aladeen employs these regularly. After one is shot in an ambush in front of the Royal Palace, a clueless shepherd is recruited as the next replacement.
Break-Up/Make-Up Scenario: Aladeen and Zoey get closer and closer. Aladeen finally confesses that he loves her and just after that he is the dictator Aladeen. Because of the latter confession, Zoey rejects him. In the end, Aladeen sees Zoey in the crowd as he is going to reject the democratic constitution. This makes him change his mind and he declares that he embraces democracy, so Zoey falls for him.
Brilliant, but Lazy: Aladeen, who proves later in the movie that he CAN be a competent (although brutal and ruthless) leader if necessary.
Bullying a Dragon:
- Aladeen invokes this trope by mocking Clayton for his (supposedly) poor choice of weaponry and then for pissing off the restaurant waiter with fake Line of Sight Aliases.
- The fat kid who sabotages Zoey's inventory invokes Aladeen's wrath.
Bunny-Ears Lawyer: If his credentials are to be believed, Aladeen is a doctor, opthamologist, swimmer and decorated Military Commander.
The Caligula: Aladeen is out and proud about being one, but what sets him apart from most examples is that he actually believes the Wadiyans want him to oppress them.
Aladeen: "From the mountain tops of North Korea to the jungles of Zimbabwe, let every child labourer and sweat shop factory worker sing... Oppressed at last! Oppressed at last! Thank Aladeen, I am oppressed at last!"
Character Tic: Lifting up his point finger when he speaks. It's a reference to Real Life Cuban Dictator Fidel Castro, who did the same during his speeches.
Chest of Medals: Aladeen's clothing hoard a lot of medals with ribbons. When you consider the ridiculous and excessive titles he gives himself, they make sense.
Comedic Sociopathy: Basically all of Aladeen’s evil acts.
Crouching Moron, Hidden Badass: Aladeen may look like an idiot, but he's frighteningly competent at leading any group of people, be it a country or a grocery store.
Dead Guy Puppet: Aladeen seek a beard from a deceased African warlord and has Nadal chop off the head while they're at the funeral. Afterwards, Aladeen plays with the decapitated head like a puppet.
Death by Racism: Averted. He spends the greater part of the movie making various racist and politically incorrect remarks, but never really gets punished for it.
Does This Remind You of Anything?: Aladeen pleasures Zoey by tonguing her hairy armpit.
Do Wrong, Right: Aladeen admonishes his torturer for using tools that are outdated and have been replaced by better implements.
Aladeen: "Where did you get those relics from? The Shah of Iran's garage sale?"
Even Evil Has Standards: Aladeen now knows why everyone hates Bin Laden. Played With: it's because Bin Laden won't leave Aladeen's guest house. And keeps messing up his bathroom.
"You go to the bathroom after Osama, you will realize the true meaning of terrorism."
Everyone Has Standards: Even Aladeen is amazed at how stupid his body double is.
Dressed to Oppress: Aladeen, in his military outfit, wears Chest of Medals and ribbons, golden chains and frilly epaullettes. He even provides the page image!
Dumbass Has a Point: While trying to glide across buildings, he tells Nadal that he doesn't trust brand advertising. Given how in the modern day and age, corporations are known to lie to customers and put up facades in order to have a clean image, this is actually a solid point.
Evil Is Petty: Aladeen kills people for very petty reasons. He orders one person executed for getting the cereal toy prize he wanted, and another for blocking his path on a staircase.
Execution: Aladeen orders this on his people for the pettiest of reasons. However, he later finds out that everyone he's ever "executed" is just sent to New York.
Expy: Aladeen is one to (former) real world dictator Kim Jong-il of North Korea- sorry, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The film is even dedicated to Kim's memory! He also appears to be one for (again former) real world dictator Muammar Gaddafi of The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, now just Libya.
Extreme Omnisexual: Aladeen is shown to be with several women and Arnold Schwarzenegger. And it's later stated that 14 year old boys are his weakness.
Jerkass: He's a bigoted, racist, homophobic, misogynistic loon that glorifies every evil thing he's ever done, and it's all played for laughs.
Fan Disservice: We get to see many shots of his barenaked body and hair legs, plus Male Frontal Nudity.
Fake American: In-universe. Aladeen does an expectedly horrible job of impersonating an American tourist.
"I love being an Americans! America is number one! Oh, I am from U.S.A.! My father also from U.S.A.! My great-grandfather fought in the American Civil Jihad."
Free Prize at the Bottom: During one scene, Aladeen is having cereal with one of his generals. As the general pours his cereal, the prize inside lands right in his bowl. Aladeen tells him to enjoy it, then immediately orders the general's execution.
Foreign Culture Fetish: Despite hating America, he's quite the fan of Hollywood. He also enjoys watching Looney Tunes.
Aladeen: "I love American films, particularly fantasy films like Lord of the Rings and Schindler's List."
Funny Foreigner: The film's comedy is driven from Aladeen's culture shock in America, where the standards of living are much higher than that of Wadiya's.
The Generalissimo: Aladeen embodies the exaggerated version of this.
Glorious Leader: The official Wadiyan website goes on and on in praise of Aladeen.
Go-Karting with Bowser: In the middle of kidnapping and torturing Aladeen, Clayton also has a genial conversation with him about Billy Elliot.
Happily Ever After: The film ends with the marriage of Aladeen and Zoey.
Heel–Face Turn: Zigzagged towards the end, with Aladeen going back and forth between deciding to introduce democracy and remaining as a dictatorship. Ultimately subverted as Aladeen decides to introduce "real democracy" to his country, but they just turn out to be sham elections.
Hidden Depths: For all of Aladeen's many, many faults, he's actually an incredibly efficient manager. This is evidenced when he forcibly takes control of Zoey's store. After a couple of days, he's got the right employees doing the right job, has the store looking nice and generally running smoothly. Albeit by employing some questionable methods, including kidnapping and extortion.
- Whereas Aladeen once seemed to genuinely believe that - quote - "the Wadiyan people love being oppressed", his declaration of democracy being "instated" in Wadiya is the start of his first actual effort at feigning benevolence for the rest of the world, holding an election with an actual opponent (winning by a full 1.19 percentage points less compared to his last and what was once his only one), changing his main title to President-Prime Minister, and not being pathologically resentful to those who dispute his ballistic missile design choices. Baby steps towards being Repressive, but Efficient.
How the Mighty Have Fallen: Aladeen has gone from being a feared dictator to a poor refugee working at a grocery store.
Hypocrite: Aladeen doesn't like it when Clayton is racist to him, despite having a regular habit of taking digs at black people and Jews.
Aladeen, upon meeting Zoey's African employee: "Hey, Sub-Saharan! Do you think you could get me 100 child soldiers here by 5:00 P.M?"
Insane Troll Logic: Aladeen ordered many civilians and his own scientists and generals to be executed for very selfish, trivial reasons (i.e. disagreements over what shape the nuclear warheads should be, jealousy over a cereal toy prize, blocking his path on a staircase) but he does nothing against Osama bin Laden for squatting at his guesthouse (let alone ruining the bathroom there) other than complain about it.
Interrupted Suicide: He tried killing himself after losing all his power, but he was stopped by Nadal.
It's All About Me: Aladeen madafakas!
Karma Houdini: Aladeen never gets any comeuppance for being a brutal tyrant. At best, there's Zoey scolding him from time to time.
Kavorka Man: He sleeps with Megan Fox in an early scene in the film, and has apparently also slept with Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Halle Berry, Oprah Winfrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Ellen DeGeneres. Not to mention, he manages to clinch the heart of Zoey.
Liar Revealed: Aladeen willingly reveals his true identity after pretending to be an activist.
Lighter and Softer: Compared to Borat and Brüno (2009). While those two films were R-rated (and very hard R's, at that), this one seems to play it on the safe side and with a few trims could have easily been a PG-13 (which was the studio's original plan).
Line-of-Sight Alias: Parodied. Aladeen seems almost incapable of coming up with an alias any other way. It works the first time with "Allison Burgers," but it leads to obviously fake names like "Ladis Washerum" and "Emploice Muswashans" that don't fool anybody.
Love Redeems: Downplayed. By having shown Aladeen compassion by standing up to the cop who falsely arrested him for allegedly trying to hijack a helicopter and bomb NYC, Aladeen falls in love with Zoey and her presence at the hotel meeting alone is able to convince Aladeen to at least let Wadiya remain a democracy even if a terrible one where Aladeen still gets to direct it however he wants. So, Aladeen's feelings for Zoey help him become a (slightly) better person.
Let the Bully Win: In the games he organized, Aladeen won all medals, but he is shown shooting some of his competitors (and random people) during a race.
Male Frontal Nudity: Aladeen's robe flies up as he tries to swing between two buildings, before thwacking right into a window.
Make It Look Like an Accident: Aladeen seized power from his father after murdering him in a "hunting accident". Though he apparently did a really shitty job of making it look like an accident.
Biography: When Aladeen was just a child, his father Omar died in a tragic hunting accident when he was hit by 97 stray bullets and a stray grenade. Shortly afterwards, Omar's Chief Advisor suggested that Aladeen should be officially declared the successor. The supremely-humble Aladeen responded by accepting the position.
- The same biography also implies Aladeen's older siblings all met the same fate.
Mistaken for Terrorist: This happens to Aladeen and Nadal when they are on the helicopter. They're speaking about mundane things in Arabic (actually Hebrew), but with hand gestures and English names that give their fellow passengers the impression they're plotting to destroy various New York landmarks. They also mention "Nine-Eleven" a few times but are actually talking about the Porsche Model 911.
Nadal: (in Wadiyan) "You know, while you are here, you should try to see some of the sights such as the <Empire State Building> and <Yankee Stadium>."
Aladeen: (in Wadiyan) "I'd love to see the fireworks over the <Statue of Liberty!>"
(starts making exploding sounds and hand gestures, then gives Nadal a high-five)
Massive Numbered Siblings: If the Republic of Wadiya Character Blog is to be believed, he has six older brothers, all of which met tragic accidental deaths.
Republic of Wadiya website: "The eldest slipped on Aladeen's Hot Wheels cars and fell down the stairs while babysitting Aladeen. Another brother fell and impaled himself through the eye on Aladeen's "Action Jackson" action figure — again while babysitting. Another was murdered at age 12 by General Motors when his Pontiac Trans Am put itself in drive and ran him over. Tragically, Aladeen's remaining three brothers perished in a typical suicide pact by simultaneously shooting themselves in the back multiple times with automatic rifles."
Narcissist: Aladeen views himself as the most important person to ever exist and becomes frustrated when others don't validate him. He thrives off of attention and his own delusions of grandeur, and will go through any lengths to reinforce this belief.
Nemesis as Customer: At one point, he is lead to the "Death To Aladeen!" Restaurant in Manhattan. The restaurant is, unsurprisingly, run by his enemies, all of which he had ordered executed, most of them for ridiculously petty reasons, such as accidentally getting in his way while walking up a set of stairs or being the one to get the included toy from a box of cereal instead of Aladeen.^note They aren't fooled by his ridiculously obvious Line-of-Sight Name (nor his three equally stupid attempts to replace it), and come within a hair's breadth of assassinating him before the guy he'd been tailing stops them.
No Communities Were Harmed: He is a clear parallel to many Real Life Dictactors (such as Castro, Kimg Jong Un and Saddam Hussein), as well as bigoted governers of the Middle East.
"Not If They Enjoyed It" Rationalization: Discussed between Aladeen and Nadal. Aladeen, being an idiot, is proven wrong.
Not Quite Dead: Aladeen admits to a shoplifter at Zoey's store that the real Osama bin Laden is hiding in his guesthouse being a sloppy, freeloading guest who won't leave and that the guy SEAL Team Six shot was a double.
Oh, Crap!: Aladeen when he ends up in the "death to Aladeen" restaurant in New York, and realizes that everyone he had executed is alive and in the restaurant with him.
Overly Long Name: Long live His Excellency, General Colonel Doctor Aladeen, Democratic President-For-Life, Invincible and All-Triumphant Commander, Chief Ophthalmologist, Brilliant Genius of Humanity, Excellent Swimmer Including Butterfly, and Beloved Oppressor and Ruthless Protector of the Precious and Expendable People of Wadiya.
Overly Stereotypical Disguise: Dresses head to toe in the American flag posing as an American tourist during a helicopter tour scene, where him and Nadal are Mistaken For Terrorists.
Politically Incorrect Villain: Aladeen holds bigoted views towards women (saying he'd abort his and Zoey's child if it turned out to be female), Jews (he believes that Schindler's List is a fantasy film), black people (he makes fun of America for being "built by the blacks and owned by the Chinese") and pretty much any group that isn't men, Arabs or Muslims.
Prince and Pauper: Aladeen is the Prince, Efawdh is the Pauper.
Psychopathic Manchild: It doesn't matter if Aladeen is having a good day or a bad day, whether you're a friend or an enemy, or whether you've caught his attention or not - if he's involved in something, heads will fly. He's responsible for the ends of many and will continue to rise his numbers because in his view, this psychopathic behaviour is the norm.
Redemption Demotion: Aladeen's former minions went from being high-level officials to working menial jobs in New York City after they were snuck out of Wadiya. Aside from Nadal, who is so sick of the crappy job that he wishes to work with Aladeen, most of them seem content with their lives.
Refuge in Audacity: Aladeen, who very easily becomes unrecognizable without his beard.
Riches to Rags: After Aladeen is shorn of his identity and his beard, he's forced to live as an anonymous refugee.
Right for the Wrong Reasons: About bin Laden.
Aladeen: "I know why this guy's the most hated man in the world. You just have to go to the bathroom after him."
Running Gag: Aladeen ordering the execution of someone for a petty reason with a Throat-Slitting Gesture, just after telling the concerned person that everything is OK.
Self-Made Orphan: Aladeen almost certainly killed off his dad in addition to all of his brothers.
Shout-Out: "Aladeen" isn't an actual Arab name; it's clearly a reference to the Disney movie.
Spoiled Brat: Ever since birth, Aladeen has been pampered and waited on hand and foot, with anyone refusing to show Blind Obedience to (or slightly disagree with) him being executed. Aladeen bought the hype around him, fully believing that he is above everyone else (though some moments imply that he is a tad bit self aware).
The Sociopath:
Aladeen: "Why is this happening to me? All I ever did was steal my country's wealth and execute anybody who did not agree with me, and many who did."
Suspiciously Specific Denial:
Aladeen: "Enriching weapons-grade uranium to be used for peaceful purposes, It will be used only for medical research and clean energy. It will, it will. And will certainly never be used to attack Is... Oh, boy."
Throat-Slitting Gesture: The standard way for Aladeen to condemn someone to death. Poor Nadal.
Ungrateful Bastard: Even after Nadal saves him from being decapitated by angry Wadiyan refugees, he complains to him again for making a nuclear weapon that is round and not pointy.
Villain Protagonist: Double Subversion. Aladeen is a ruthless egomaniac dictator and he is the protagonist of the film. He seems to undergo a Heel–Face Turn in the end and to embrace democracy (which would be a subversion of the trope), but actually this is just a façade: he intends to remain the absolute ruler of Wadiya.
You Have Failed Me: Aladeen is known for having people executed for extremely petty reasons. Subverted in that the executioner is part of La Résistance, so everyone he has sentenced to death escaped and formed a resistance movement against him in New York.

Nadal

Nadal, Nuclear Nadal

Played by: Jason Mantzoukas

Aladeen's "Head of [his] Nuclear Program and Procurer of Women". He was thought to have died through Execution, but survived and lives in New York, where he works a boring job. Hoping to get his job back, he assists Aladeen in regaining his title.

Nadal

Affectionate Nickname: Aladeen dubs him "Nuclear Nadal".
Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: Nadal's pep talk to Aladeen:
Nadal: "You are the last great dictator! All of the others are gone! Qaddafi, Saddam, Kim Jong, Cheney."
Beleaguered Assistant: Nadal doesn't actually like Aladeen getting back into power. He just wants out of his boring job in New York.
Butt-Monkey: He's forced to play babysitter to Aladeen due to his Manchild tendencies. In addition, Aladeen keeps harassing him over the nuclear warhead's tip shape (which doesn't matter in the slightest bit how effective the warhead is) and a dead corpse's head.
But Not Too Foreign: His criminal mugshot reveals that his legal name is "Nadal Burgers". "Nadal" is an Arab name, but "Burgers" is derived from "Hamburger", which originally derives from Hamburg, the second-largest city in Germany.
Easily Forgiven: Doesn't seem to hold a grudge against Aladeen for ordering his death.
Execution: Was sentenced to this fate by Aladeen. However, he survived.
Interrupted Suicide: Nadal shows up when Aladeen is going to kill himself. He talks to him so that Aladeen gives up his project.
Jerkass: Unsurprisingly, since he is an upper-class Wadiyan.
Aladeen: "What are Civil Rights?"
Nadal: "I'll tell you later, they're hilarious."
Mad Scientist: Nadal agrees to help Aladeen regain power so he can continue working on nuclear weapons, instead of his lame job in America.
Not Used to Freedom: Realizing that his newfound freedom in New York City has offered him nothing but a boring job as a Mac Genius, once he finds Aladeen exiled there too he sees it as his ticket back to Wadiya to build nuclear weapons again. Later on, Nadal complains he does not want Wadiya to become democratized like America.
Politically Incorrect Villain: Nadal shares many of Aladeen's views on women and non-Arabs.
Punch-Clock Villain: Nadal has no real love for Aladeen: he just wants to help his boss return to power to get his more dignified job in Wadiya back.
The Smart Guy: Nadal is a skilled engineer who constructed warheads for Aladeen, until one day Aladeen and Nadal disagreed with about what shape they should be, so the former ordered the latter to be executed.
Smart People Wear Glasses: He's a nuclear scientist. Apart from that, between him and his dumbass leader, Nadal is the brains of the operation, and he guides Aladeen throughout the film about life in America.
Token Good Teammate: Downplayed. He's a bigoted asshole, but the fact that he talked Aladeen out of suicide does imply there's a heart of gold in there. Somewhere.
Talking Down the Suicidal: Nadal talks to Aladeen when he wants to commit suicide because he was rejected by Zoey for being a dictator.

Efawadh

Played by: Sacha Baron Cohen

Aladeen's body double.

Bestiality Is Depraved: Aladeen's body double is more, err, comfortable with goats than women...
Prince and Pauper: Between Aladeen and his stunt double.
Taking the Bullet: After Aladeen's speech about democracy, his double jumps before him to take a bullet that was shot at him by Tamir.
Undying Loyalty: He's genuinely concerned for his leader's health and instantly relinquishes power back to him as soon as he returns. He also takes a bullet for Aladeen in the climax.

Tamir

Played by: Ben Kingsley

Aladeen's uncle and advisor, the Greater-Scope Villain of the movie who tried to have him killed in order to assume the throne and sell off Wadiya's oil to the West.

Uncle Tamir

Bald of Evil: Perhaps to emphasize his age, he has one.
The Comically Serious: While everyone else is hamming it up, Ben Kingsley maintains a dignified facade throughout all the silly events happening around him.
Evil Chancellor: He prioritizes wealth over the wellbeing of the Wadiyans.
Evil Versus Evil: A ruthless egomaniac dictator versus a corrupt Treacherous Advisor who wants to sell off his country to oil tycoons. Whichever of them won, the people of Wadiya would still suffer.
Evil Uncle: He wants to kill his nephew so that he can repurpose the Wadiyan economy for his own gains. He doesn't seem to hold any concern for the Wadiyan citizens either.
Greater-Scope Villain: He arranged the assassination of Aladeen, which led to the events of the film happening.
Princeling Rivalry: He's not happy that his idiot nephew got the throne before him, hence him following the family tradition of assassinating the throne's rivals.
The Starscream: He presents himself as an ally to Aladeen, but his true intentions are to kill him. Thanks to Aladeen already slaughtering the remaining rivals to the throne, he doesn't have to worry about any other competition.
Treacherous Advisor: He views his nephew as an incompetent leader (which to be fair is completely Justified) and wants to be rid of him.

Americans

Zoey

Played by: Anna Faris

A kindhearted Jewish woman from New York who takes pity on a stranded Aladeen and welcomes him into her store as an employee. Zoey believes that Aladeen has good in him, in spite of the clear proof that he doesn't.

Zoey

Ambiguously Jewish: Before it's explicitly stated in the film, it's somewhat implied by the fact that she lives in New York (which has a high Jewish population).
Boyish Short Hair: Zoey has short, black hair.
The Ditz: Zoey believes in seeing the good in everyone, which leads to many moments of her excusing Aladeen's behaviour and chalking their disdain for him to Americans being bigoted. She even somehow buys that a dictator is capable of change overnight and agrees to marry him, which leads her to an Uncertain Doom at the end of the movie.
Granola Girl: Manages a completely democratic health food store which is hyper eco friendly and takes in political refugees as workers.
Good Is Dumb: Zoey has a heart of gold and wants to provide opportunities for those unfairly marginalized by society, but she tends to overlook the worst in people in favour of being accomodating.
Hairy Girl: Playing alongside the Granola Girl image, Zoey is also seen sporting armpit hair for the length of the movie. She and Aladeen even manage a particularly funny fake out during their "sex scene" swapping oral sex for him instead licking her furry armpits. Aladeen even nicknames her a "yeti" because of it.
Horrible Judge of Character: She frequently goes to bat for Aladeen, in spite of his horrible actions. When he agrees to Wadiyan democracy for her sake, she feels elated...only to find out that Aladeen despises her Jewish origins and asks her to abort her fetus if it's female.
Innocent Blue Eyes: Zoey's ones emphasize her childlike nature. When Aladeen runs her grocery store, he makes sure to have a poster with her eyes in prominent focus.
Lady Looks Like a Dude: A Running Gag. Aladeen keeps comparing Zoey to a boy.
Pointy-Haired Boss: While she's a Benevolent Boss she's allowed such blunders as letting an African refugee from a tribe with no concept of money man the registers, a Salvadoran woman whose hands have been replaced with hooked prosthetics do inventory in a store with easily damaged and perishable merchandise, and is oblivious about one of her employees skimming from the till. Worst of all is probably hiring Aladeen, though it turns out his totalitarian "Supreme Grocer" managing style worked wonders.
Political Overcorrectness: Played with. Throughout the film, she frequently challenges Aladeen's views on women and other minorities, but there are several instances where she misunderstands genuine concern about his behaviour as racism.
Zoey, introducing herself: "This is my store. This is a free earth collective. We are a vegan, feminist, non-profit cooperative operating within an anti-racist, anti-oppressive framework for people of all or no genders."
Nice Girl: Zoey is this, which is relentlessly abused by Aladeen.
Sexy Backless Outfit: Her wedding outfit is one.
The Smart Guy: Despite being The Ditz, Zoey apparently went to Amhurst.
Straw Feminist: Zoey is a wacky feminist who has a vegan shop, and is often portrayed as the complete other side of the spectrum to Aladeen.
Soapbox Sadie: Aladeen sees her as one because she constantly critisizes his bigotry. It becomes hilarious when she critisizes a couple for supposedly being racist to Aladeen and Nadal for speaking Arabic, not knowing that they were literally discussing the housing of Osama bin Laden in one of Aladeen's abodes.
Women Are Wiser: Subverted. She is a terrible manager and a Horrible Judge of Character. However, she is degrees above Aladeen and his stunt double.
Uncertain Doom: We see Aladeen ordering her to be executed after discovering her Jewish ancestry, but she's still alive in the mid-credit scenes so it's unknown if Aladeen has a change of heart or if the scenes are chronologically before the wedding.

Clayton

Played by: John C. Reilly

Initially a bodyguard sent to protect Aladeen, Clayton reveals his true colours as an assassin sent by Tamir to kill Aladeen. However this attempt backfires.

Asshole Victim: He is burned to death while trying to kill Aladeen, right after unleashing a racist tirade against Middle Easterners at him.
Death by Racism: While trying to kill Aladeen, he decides to torture him and set his beard on fire. However the fire spreads and catches him as well.
Deep South: Calls Arabs "Ay-rabs".
Friendly Enemy: He wants to kill Aladeen while also being very friendly with him. Aladeen, in turn, provides stern but honest advice about Clayton's mediocre torture devices.
Go-Karting with Bowser: Like, Aladeen, Clayton has a love for Hollywood films. Even though he kidnapped (and planned to torture and kill) him, the two muse about Billy Elliot.
Hoist by His Own Petard: Clayton sets himself on fire, right after arguing with Aladeen over the quality of his weapons and gas torch.
Psycho for Hire: Clayton is upfront about wanting to torture Aladeen before killing him.
Torture Technician: Tries to be this, but Aladeen, himself a Torture Technician, mocks and degrades his apparently outdated tool set, ruining his fun.

Characters / The Dictator

The Nation of Wadiya

Played by: Sacha Baron Cohen, Liam Campora (young)^{Other languages}Mario Filio (Latin Spanish)