Federal Decree by Law No. (21) of 2022 Regulating the Profession of Experts before Judicial Authorities
Federal Decree by Law No. (21) of 2022
This decree-law regulates the profession of expert witnesses before UAE judicial authorities, including registration, expert firms, appointment, duties, independence, conflicts, expert reports, professional discipline and the framework for using unregistered specialists in permitted circumstances.
Overview
What this legislation covers
This decree-law regulates the profession of expert witnesses before UAE judicial authorities, including registration, expert firms, appointment, duties, independence, conflicts, expert reports, professional discipline and the framework for using unregistered specialists in permitted circumstances.
Who or what it applies to
- Individual experts registered to act before judicial authorities.
- Local and international expert firms within the statutory framework.
- Persons applying for registration in an expert specialty.
- Judicial authorities appointing experts.
- Unregistered specialists engaged only in circumstances permitted by the law and executive regulation.
Key points
Important points at a glance
The law establishes the federal framework for experts and expert firms working before judicial authorities.
Registration in the relevant roster is central to ordinary practice before judicial authorities.
The framework distinguishes registered experts/expert firms from exceptional use of unregistered specialists.
Experts must comply with professional duties, independence and conflict requirements.
Judicial authorities retain powers concerning appointment and management of expertise in proceedings.
The law regulates expert reports, files and professional responsibility.
Cabinet Resolution No. (17) of 2024 provides the executive regulations.
Cabinet Resolution No. (20) of 2024 addresses Ministry of Justice service fees for expert witnesses and expert firms.
Cabinet Resolution No. (145) of 2025 is listed by the official portal as the administrative-sanctions regulation.
Article 46 provides that the decree-law entered into force on 2 January 2023.
The decree-law was issued on 26 September 2022.
Practical explanation
Understanding the law
Purpose and legislative background
The law aims to improve the reliability and professionalism of technical expertise used by courts and other judicial authorities by creating clear qualification, registration and accountability rules.
The official related-legislation page identifies Cabinet Resolution No. (17) of 2024 (executive regulation), No. (20) of 2024 (fees) and No. (145) of 2025 (administrative sanctions) as key related instruments.
Scope and who it applies to
- Individual experts registered to act before judicial authorities.
- Local and international expert firms within the statutory framework.
- Persons applying for registration in an expert specialty.
- Judicial authorities appointing experts.
- Unregistered specialists engaged only in circumstances permitted by the law and executive regulation.
Key definitions
- Expert: a natural person registered to practise expert work before judicial authorities under the decree-law.
- Expert Firm: a legal person licensed and registered to practise the expert profession.
- Roster: the official register used for experts and expert firms.
- Judicial Authority: the court/prosecution or other judicial body within the statutory scope.
Main rights and obligations
- Experts must act impartially and within their registered expertise.
- Experts must comply with assignment terms and judicial directions.
- Expert firms must ensure work is carried out through properly qualified persons.
- Experts must maintain confidentiality and properly manage evidence/documents received for an assignment.
Procedures and compliance
- Apply for registration in the relevant expert specialty.
- Maintain the professional/licensing evidence required by the decree-law and executive regulation.
- Accept judicial assignments only where no statutory conflict or disqualification exists.
- Carry out the assignment and submit the report within the judicially prescribed framework.
- Respond to technical inspection, complaints or disciplinary processes according to the law and executive regulation.
Deadlines and time limits
- Issued date: 26 September 2022.
- Effective date: 2 January 2023.
- Assignment-specific deadlines are normally set by the judicial authority or executive rules and must be checked in the particular case.
Enforcement, violations and penalties
The law establishes professional discipline and the legal basis for sanctions. Cabinet Resolution No. (145) of 2025 is identified by the official portal as the administrative-sanctions regulation.
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
- A forensic engineer appointed by a court should confirm that the assignment falls within the expert's registered specialty.
- Parties who agree on a specialist who is not in the roster still need to satisfy the conditions for exceptional use and obtain the judicial authority's approval where required.
- An expert firm should keep its roster information and professional licences current before accepting court assignments.
- An expert who discovers a conflict of interest should follow the statutory rules rather than continue the assignment.
Amendments and related legislation
The official related-legislation page identifies Cabinet Resolution No. (17) of 2024 (executive regulation), No. (20) of 2024 (fees) and No. (145) of 2025 (administrative sanctions) as key related instruments.
What businesses and individuals should check
- An expert's professional or technical licence does not automatically replace registration in the judicial-expert roster.
- The 2024 executive regulation should be checked for registration evidence, assignment and procedural rules.
- Parties may have limited ability to agree on an unregistered expert, but the judicial authority's approval and the regulation's conditions are important.
- Before quoting a sanction, check Cabinet Resolution No. (145) of 2025.
- 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.
Practical notes
- An expert's professional or technical licence does not automatically replace registration in the judicial-expert roster.
- The 2024 executive regulation should be checked for registration evidence, assignment and procedural rules.
- Parties may have limited ability to agree on an unregistered expert, but the judicial authority's approval and the regulation's conditions are important.
- Before quoting a sanction, check Cabinet Resolution No. (145) of 2025.
Legislation text
Text and provisions
Official-text notice. This file is a structured English rendering prepared from the UAE Legislation portal and the official sources listed in the package. It is not represented as the legally controlling Arabic text. For interpretation and application, consult the original Arabic text and the latest Official Gazette / official UAE legislation source.
Federal Decree by Law No. (21) of 2022 Regulating the Profession of Experts before Judicial Authorities
Verified legislative metadata
| Instrument | Federal Decree by Law No. (21) of 2022 |
|---|---|
| Issued date | 2022-09-26 |
| Effective date | 2023-01-02 |
| Status | Active / in force |
| Official source | UAE Legislation |
Structured rendering of the legislation
General professional framework
The decree-law defines the profession, competent Ministry functions, expert rosters, expert firms and the relationship with judicial authorities.
Registration and qualification
The law establishes requirements and procedures for registration, renewal and professional status for individual experts and expert firms.
Expert appointment before judicial authorities
The statute regulates appointment and assignment of experts in proceedings, while the executive regulation provides detailed controls. The 2024 regulation confirms that unregistered experts may be used only in the permitted circumstances.
Professional duties
Experts must perform assignments impartially, within their competence and according to the judicial authority's mandate, and must comply with confidentiality and documentation requirements.
Reports and expert work
The framework governs preparation and submission of expert work, cooperation with parties and the judicial authority, and handling of professional files.
Discipline and administrative sanctions
The law and later Cabinet resolutions establish disciplinary and administrative consequences for violations.
Article 46 — Publication and entry into force
The decree-law was issued on 26 September 2022 and entered into force on 2 January 2023.
Key points confirmed during research
- The law establishes the federal framework for experts and expert firms working before judicial authorities.
- Registration in the relevant roster is central to ordinary practice before judicial authorities.
- The framework distinguishes registered experts/expert firms from exceptional use of unregistered specialists.
- Experts must comply with professional duties, independence and conflict requirements.
- Judicial authorities retain powers concerning appointment and management of expertise in proceedings.
- The law regulates expert reports, files and professional responsibility.
- Cabinet Resolution No. (17) of 2024 provides the executive regulations.
- Cabinet Resolution No. (20) of 2024 addresses Ministry of Justice service fees for expert witnesses and expert firms.
- Cabinet Resolution No. (145) of 2025 is listed by the official portal as the administrative-sanctions regulation.
- Article 46 provides that the decree-law entered into force on 2 January 2023.
- The decree-law was issued on 26 September 2022.
Source hierarchy
Where the principal decree-law delegates detail to an executive regulation, Cabinet resolution, Ministry/regulator decision or judicial-authority rule, that implementing instrument should be read together with the principal law. A later amendment or replacement instrument prevails to the extent provided by law.
Verification
Official source & references
Official legislation sourcehttps://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1564Open ↗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.