Federal Law No. (6) of 1978 Regarding Establishing Federal Courts and Transferring Powers of Local Judicial Authorities in Some Emirates to Such Courts
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.
Overview
What this legislation covers
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.
Who or what it applies to
- Federal courts established or governed under the law.
- Judicial authorities in the emirates to which the transfer provisions apply.
- Litigants and practitioners assessing the institutional basis of federal court jurisdiction.
Key points
Important points at a glance
Establishes federal courts in the emirates covered by the law.
Transfers specified judicial powers from local authorities in those emirates to the federal courts.
Addresses federal court jurisdiction across civil, commercial, administrative, criminal and personal-status matters within the statutory allocation.
Contains organizational and transition provisions for the transfer of judicial functions.
The official portal lists five amendments and a last update on 10 June 1991.
The law remains listed as active on the official UAE Legislation portal.
Practical explanation
Understanding the law
Purpose and scope
The 1978 law helped create the institutional federal court system by transferring specified local judicial functions to federal courts in the emirates covered by the statute.
Why it remains relevant
Even though modern court procedure is governed by later codes, this law remains important when tracing the legal foundation and jurisdictional development of the federal courts.
Amendments
The official record lists multiple amendments. Historical copies should not be treated as a reliable statement of the current consolidated text.
Practical research point
When a jurisdictional question concerns whether a matter belongs to a federal or local judicial authority, later constitutional, judicial-authority, judicial-relations and local laws may all need to be reviewed.
Practical notes
- This is foundational institutional legislation and must be read with later federal judicial-authority and procedure laws.
- Because it has multiple amendments, rely on the current consolidated official text rather than an original 1978 copy alone.
Legislation text
Text and provisions
Official-text notice. This package provides a structured English rendering based on the official UAE legislation source identified in the manifest. It is not represented as the legally controlling Arabic text. For interpretation and application, consult the original Arabic text and the latest consolidated official UAE legislation.
Verified legislative metadata
| Instrument | Federal Law No. (6) of 1978 |
|---|---|
| Issued date | 1978-06-05 |
| Effective date | 1978-06-15 |
| Status | Active / in force; amended |
| Official Gazette | Official Gazette No. 58 |
| Official source | UAE Legislation |
Foundational purpose
Federal Law No. (6) of 1978 is foundational legislation in the development of the UAE federal court system. It establishes federal courts and transfers specified judicial powers from local authorities in the emirates covered by the statute.
Federal courts and transferred jurisdiction
The law addresses the establishment and operation of federal courts and the assumption by those courts of judicial functions that had been exercised by local judicial authorities in the relevant emirates.
Types of judicial matters
The statutory framework concerns the exercise of jurisdiction across the categories allocated to the federal courts, including civil, commercial, criminal, administrative and personal-status matters as provided by the legislation and later laws.
Transition and administration
The legislation includes transitional and administrative rules necessary to move judicial functions, cases, records and institutional responsibility to the federal system.
Amendment history
The official UAE Legislation portal lists five amendments and identifies 10 June 1991 as the last update recorded on the law. Users should therefore rely on the consolidated official version.
Relationship with later laws
The law should be read together with the current Federal Judicial Authority Law, judicial-relations legislation, applicable procedural codes and any emirate-specific judicial legislation.
Verification
Official source & references
Official legislation sourcehttps://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1187Open ↗Official Gazette: Official Gazette No. 58
This page is a research and educational resource. Legislation can be amended, repealed, supplemented by regulations or interpreted by courts and authorities. Obtain advice before relying on it for a live matter.