Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued a Law establishing the Dubai Center for Judicial Expertise as a public institution affiliated with the Judicial Council in Dubai.
The Center, granted legal personality, is designed to facilitate and regulate expert work required in judicial cases, ensuring findings presented before judicial authorities meet international best practices and enhance overall efficiency.
The newly created Center aims to strengthen Dubai’s judicial authorities by engaging qualified experts from both the UAE and overseas. Its mandate includes improving the quality of expert reports, supporting faster case resolution, and contributing to the accuracy of judicial rulings.
It also seeks to develop national expertise across specialized fields, establish unified standards and procedures for appointing, supervising, and evaluating experts, and build partnerships with local and international institutions to share knowledge and experiences. These efforts are expected to enhance litigants’ confidence in expert testimony presented in court.
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the Dubai Judicial Council, stated that, “With the vision and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai continues to develop its judicial system and enhance it with expertise and specialized cadres, so that it remains responsive to evolving changes and developments, thereby reinforcing trust in Dubai’s judiciary and its integrity, and strengthening the emirate’s position as a preferred destination for living, working, and investing,”
“The establishment of the Dubai Center for Judicial Expertise is a qualitative addition to strengthening the justice system in the emirate. This Center will serve as a trusted platform for providing high-quality technical expertise and a fundamental pillar in enhancing the efficiency of the judicial system and expediting litigation procedures in a way that ensures the protection of rights and the reinforcement of the principles of transparency and integrity,” Sheikh Maktoum added.
His Excellency Dr. Saif Ghanem Al Suwaidi, Director General of Dubai Courts, affirmed that the new law will enable the standardization of procedures and the development of reliable mechanisms to engage expert knowledge relevant to legal cases.
His Excellency explained that the Center will work to enhance the quality of technical reports by attracting distinguished experts and deploying advanced digital systems to integrate electronically with judicial authorities and experts. It will also invest in training and preparing Emirati cadres to meet the requirements of the justice system with efficiency and professionalism.
“Dubai Courts, under the supervision of His Highness the Chairman of the Judicial Council, is keen to maximize the use of available resources to improve judicial services in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to establish Dubai as a trusted destination for litigation,” Dr. Al Suwaidi emphasized.
Dr. Abdullah Saif Al Sabousi, Secretary-General of the Dubai Judicial Council, added that the establishment of the Dubai Center for Judicial Expertise reflects the developmental vision previously directed by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Dr. Al Sabousi said that the Center represents a pivotal move in enhancing the legislative and regulatory framework governing expert work within the judicial system and aligns with the growing demand for specialized evaluations in judicial cases.
Governance and framework
The Center will be governed by a Board of Directors chaired by the Director of Dubai Courts, with members drawn from judicial and non-judicial entities. An executive body led by a Director General will oversee the implementation of strategies and programs. Additionally, the Law calls for a Steering Committee to supervise the transitional phase, transferring responsibilities and resources from Dubai Courts and the Rental Disputes Center to the new institution.
Mechanism for appointing experts
Judicial authorities will direct expert appointment requests to the Center, which will assign the appropriate specialist based on the case. These may include in-house experts, accredited private-sector professionals, government entity specialists, or even international expert institutions when required.
The Center will also be tasked with establishing a comprehensive legislative framework governing expert work before Dubai’s judicial bodies. This ensures accuracy in expert reports, builds confidence among litigants, and guarantees transparency and accountability.
The launch of the Dubai Center for Judicial Expertise reflects the UAE leadership’s commitment to adopting innovative institutional models that enhance judicial effectiveness and align with Dubai’s ambition to be recognized globally as a model city for quality of life, transparent governance, and the rule of law.
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