Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued a Decree No. (49) of 2024 regulating the appointment of Dubai Government employees as members of Dubai’s judicial authorities. This Decree is effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
What does Decree No. (49) of 2024 say?
The new decree sets forth specific guidelines and conditions for appointing government employees to judicial roles, with the aim of ensuring fairness, transparency, and the effective functioning of Dubai’s legal system.
The Institute’s training includes the Judicial and Legal Studies Program for judges and the Diploma in Legal and Judicial Sciences for Public Prosecutors. Furthermore, the Decree guarantees that employees can retain their positions within their respective government departments while completing their training at the institute.
Directors General under Law No. (8) of 2013 and CEOs under Law No. (8) of 2021 are exempt from this Decree. It guarantees employees full monthly salaries during their training, excluding allowances or extra benefits, in line with their government entity’s HR policies.
The Decree also sets conditions for granting training leave, requiring employees to be UAE nationals who meet the admission criteria as per Law No. (13) of 2016 on judicial authorities in Dubai, along with its amendments and related decisions.
The Decree mandates that employees in the training program adhere to the regulations set by the Dubai Judicial Institute. After completing the program and being appointed by the Judicial Council, they must serve in one of the judicial authorities for at least five years, unless the Council reduces or waives this requirement.
Failure to fulfill this obligation will result in the employee repaying all salaries received during the training. The Decree outlines further obligations set by the Judicial Council and the conditions under which salary repayment applies.
If an employee does not complete the program or meet its requirements, they will return to their previous position within their government entity.
The new regulations also aim to enhance cooperation between various government sectors and judicial bodies, fostering a more efficient and transparent decision-making process within Dubai’s governance. The decree marks another step in the emirate’s ongoing efforts to uphold the rule of law and maintain high standards of judicial excellence.