UAE Outlines Expansion of International Judicial Cooperation and Cross-Border Legal Agreements

Speaking at the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, UAE Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Federal Judicial Council Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi stated that the country has established an integrated system for international judicial cooperation to prevent borders from shielding criminals or proceeds of crime.

Al Nuaimi outlined that the UAE's framework relies on three pillars: multilateral agreements, bilateral pacts, and national legislation targeting money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. The UAE is party to 16 universal and regional conventions and enforces over 140 bilateral agreements with 53 nations covering extradition, mutual legal assistance, asset freezing, and evidence gathering.

According to the minister, around 30 percent of the UAE's bilateral judicial treaties were signed over the past five years. Four additional agreements are scheduled for signature before the end of the year, two remain under negotiation, and eight are in drafting stages. The UAE also conducted over 35 bilateral meetings with foreign central authorities during 2026.

Between 2021 and 2025, mutual legal assistance requests received by the UAE increased by 244 percent, while extradition requests rose by 235 percent. In 2025, the UAE received 576 extradition requests, with judicial courts ruling on 178 cases while the remaining requests remained under review or pending additional information.