UAE laws by sector
UAE civil, criminal and evidentiary procedure, courts, enforcement, mediation and judicial legislation.
Federal Law No. (10) of 2019
Regulates judicial relations among federal and local judicial authorities, including recognition and enforcement, coordination, transfer of matters and mechanisms supporting consistency of judicial principles.
Open law page ↗
Federal Law No. (7) of 2021
Repeals Federal Law No. (17) of 1978 and its amendments concerning cases and procedures of cassation appeals before the Union/Federal Supreme Court.
Open law page ↗
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.
Open law page ↗
Federal Decree by Law No. (13) of 2021
Establishes and regulates the Federal Judicial Enforcement Office, its institutional structure, powers, management, personnel, financial administration and cooperation framework.
Open law page ↗
Federal Law No. (13) of 2016
Regulates judicial fees before federal courts, including assessment, collection, exemptions, refunds and schedules for court claims, applications, appeals, execution and related judicial services.
Open law page ↗
Federal Law No. (6) of 1978
Establishes federal courts and transfers specified powers of local judicial authorities in certain emirates to those courts, forming a foundational part of the UAE federal judicial structure.
Open law page ↗
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.
Open law page ↗
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.
Open law page ↗
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.
Open law page ↗
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.
Open law page ↗
Federal Law No. (5) of 2022
Regulates legal and judicial rehabilitation after criminal convictions, including eligibility periods, applications, court and prosecution procedures, effects of rehabilitation and police-clearance arrangements.
Open law page ↗
Federal Law No. (4) of 2020
Creates a federal framework for non-possessory and other security rights over movable assets, including registration, third-party effectiveness, priority, enforcement and execution.
Open law page ↗
Federal Decree-Law No. (16) of 2021
Establishes the UAE legal framework for factoring and the transfer of current and future receivables, including validity, registration, priority, debtor protections, enforcement and licensing of factoring business.
Open law page ↗