Sharjah Approves AI Court Governance Rules and Specialised Environmental Court

The Sharjah Judicial Council has approved a new framework regulating the use of artificial intelligence in its courts and agreed to establish a specialised court for municipal and environmental matters, Gulf News reported. The decisions were made during a council meeting chaired by Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Judicial Council, at the Sharjah Judicial Department.

The approved "Governance Guide for the Management and Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies in the Judicial System" establishes an institutional framework for deploying AI across judicial and administrative functions. The guide outlines rules for AI use cases, risk management, data protection, cybersecurity, and mandatory human oversight, alongside auditing and monitoring procedures throughout the technology's lifecycle.

The council also approved the creation of a dedicated public prosecution and specialised court for municipal and environmental affairs. According to the report, this specialised judicial body is intended to accelerate legal proceedings and improve case quality through targeted legal expertise.

Additionally, the council approved new attire for members of the judiciary to establish a unified professional appearance and reinforce the institutional identity of the Sharjah Judicial Department.