Federal Decree by Law No. (35) of 2022 Promulgating the Law of Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions

Purpose and legislative background

The 2022 law modernises proof in civil and commercial matters and gives stronger statutory treatment to digital/electronic evidence while preserving court control and procedural fairness.

The official related-legislation page reviewed in 2026 links the Evidence Law with the 2024 Personal Status Law, witness-protection legislation and other procedural instruments. The current official source should be rechecked for amendments before litigation.

Scope and who it applies to

• Parties to UAE civil and commercial disputes.
• Courts and judges managing evidentiary procedures.
• Witnesses and persons producing documents/electronic evidence.
• Businesses creating and retaining records that may later be used as evidence.

Key definitions

• Evidence categories and electronic/documentary concepts are defined or governed by the attached law.
• Public document, private document, electronic evidence, admission, oath and witness testimony have specific legal conditions under the code.

Main rights and obligations

• Each party bears the evidentiary responsibilities allocated by substantive and evidence law.
• Parties must preserve and produce documents/electronic material in accordance with court orders and statutory rules.
• Witnesses must testify truthfully and follow the court's examination process.
• Courts must evaluate evidence under the statutory standards and public-order limits.

Procedures and compliance

1. Identify the fact to be proved and which party bears the burden.
2. Classify the evidence and confirm admissibility/form requirements.
3. File or request evidence using the procedural route in the Evidence Law and Civil Procedure Code.
4. Where authenticity is disputed, use the statutory challenge/verification process.
5. For witness/expert evidence, comply with the court's directions and the relevant statutory framework.

Deadlines and time limits

• Issued date: 3 October 2022.
• Effective date: 2 January 2023.
• Evidence-specific procedural deadlines are tied to the court process and must be checked in the exact provisions and Civil Procedure Code.

Enforcement, violations and penalties

The court controls admission, production and evaluation of evidence and may apply procedural consequences where parties fail to comply. Criminal consequences for forgery, false testimony or similar conduct arise under the applicable penal legislation.

Important distinction: Penalties and enforcement powers must be taken from the enacted article and any current implementing resolution. Practical commentary in this file explains the framework but does not create additional duties or sanctions.

Practical scenarios

1. A company relying on email correspondence should preserve metadata and authenticity evidence rather than only screenshots.
2. Parties wishing to agree a special proof mechanism should put it in writing and ensure it does not conflict with public order.
3. A witness may be questioned on credibility and bias within the limits set by the law and court.
4. A party disputing a signature or document should use the formal evidentiary challenge procedure instead of merely denying it informally.

Amendments and related legislation

The official related-legislation page reviewed in 2026 links the Evidence Law with the 2024 Personal Status Law, witness-protection legislation and other procedural instruments. The current official source should be rechecked for amendments before litigation.

What businesses and individuals should check

• The burden and method of proof depend on the claim and the evidence category.
• Electronic records should be preserved in a way that supports authenticity and integrity.
• A contractual evidence clause should be in writing and cannot override public order.
• Evidence procedure must be read together with the Civil Procedure Code.
• Confirm the current version of the principal law and any implementing resolutions on the date the issue arises.
• Check whether a federal, local-Emirate or financial/free-zone rule changes the applicable regulatory perimeter.
• Keep the official source reference used for any compliance or procedural decision.

When legal advice may be useful

Professional interpretation may be useful where the applicable legal regime is disputed, a licensing or jurisdictional boundary is unclear, a transitional rule affects an existing right, a procedural deadline may expire, or a penalty/enforcement measure is possible.

Information status

Research checked on 2026-08-31. This page is general legal information and should be re-verified against the official UAE source before use in a transaction, proceeding or compliance decision.