UAE laws by sector
UAE civil, criminal and evidentiary procedure, courts, enforcement, mediation and judicial legislation.
Federal Law No. (5) of 1985
The 1985 Civil Transactions Law was the UAE's foundational federal civil code for general private-law rights, obligations, contracts, tort/damages, property and security rights. Its attached code ran to Article 1528 and was replaced on 1 June 2026 by the new Civil Transactions Law promulgated by Federal Decree by Law No. (25) of 2025.
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Federal Decree by Law No. (42) of 2022
The UAE Civil Procedure Code regulates civil and commercial litigation procedure, jurisdiction, service, pleadings, hearings, judgments, appeals, urgent measures, execution and attachments before courts within its statutory scope, including modern electronic-service and remote-procedure mechanisms.
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Federal Decree by Law No. (35) of 2022
The Evidence Law governs proof in UAE civil and commercial transactions and litigation, including documentary and electronic evidence, admissions, oaths, witness evidence, expert-related proof and court-managed evidentiary procedures. It replaced the former 1992 federal evidence law.
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Federal Decree-Law No. (32) of 2022
This decree-law regulates the UAE federal judicial authority, including judicial independence, the Federal Judicial Council, federal courts, the Federal Public Prosecution, appointment and service conditions of judges and prosecutors, judicial inspection and institutional administration.
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Federal Decree by Law No. (25) of 2025
The decree-law promulgates a new UAE Civil Transactions Law, replacing Federal Law No. (5) of 1985 from 1 June 2026. The attached code is a comprehensive civil-law framework covering general principles, obligations, contracts, named contracts, real rights and security rights.
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