H.H. Sheikh Maktoum praises judicial performance of 2026

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, and Chairman of the Dubai Judicial Council, has commended the performance of various judicial sectors in 2026.

Sheikh Maktoum commended the results achieved across various areas, stressing the importance of continuously improving services, strengthening coordination, and developing performance measurement systems based on accurate indicators.

"These efforts contribute to Dubai’s competitiveness and reinforce its global standing as a preferred destination to live, work and invest," said Sheikh Maktoum. 

"Guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, we continue to develop Dubai’s judicial system to uphold the rule of law, safeguard rights and strengthen confidence in judicial institutions," he added. 

It was during his review of the Dubai Judicial Expertise Centre's action plan, the judicial performance indicators of the Rental Disputes Centre (RDC), and the operational results of the Judicial Police since it assumed its executive mandate.

Results of the RDC during January-September 2026 showed significant improvements in the speed of dispute resolution while maintaining high levels of accuracy in judicial rulings.

At the First Instance Committees, the average time taken to resolve cases from the date of the first hearing declined from 19.6 days in 2025 to 14 days during the reporting period in 2026. The average time from case registration to resolution also fell from 36.7 days to 27 days.

Meanwhile, the Appellate Committees recorded similar improvements, with the average time taken to resolve cases from the first hearing falling from 27.8 days to 12 days, while the average time from case registration to resolution decreased from 46.8 days to 23 days.

The rate of appellate cases resolved relative to cases registered during the reporting period reached 94.8 percent, exceeding the target of 90 percent.

Key milestones of the Dubai Judicial Expertise Centre, which began operations on August 15, include ensuring the continuity of services and coordinating with strategic partners to enhance operations and service delivery.

Its action plan includes a project to develop the centre’s digital system for managing operations and services through a centralised portal for receiving and processing requests, and provides for a greater digital integration with relevant judicial entities, alongside using AI to enhance service delivery. 

Sheikh Maktoum was also briefed on the operational results of the Judicial Police, which assumed its executive mandate on July 1 under a joint initiative between Dubai’s judicial entities and Dubai Police to strengthen direct coordination and accelerate the enforcement of judicial rulings and decisions.

During its first two months of operations, the Judicial Police recorded a 19.2 per cent reduction in the number of individuals wanted under arrest-and-bring orders.

Sheikh Maktoum also reviewed the expansion of the Judicial Police’s operational responsibilities to include compulsory enforcement, the implementation of child visitation and custody handover decisions, judicial coordination and other related duties.

Dubai continues to advance its judicial system through strategic projects and tangible results that reflect improvements in service efficiency and the swift delivery of justice.

I reviewed the action plan of the Dubai Judicial Expertise Centre, which includes enhancing digital… pic.twitter.com/IsJEg7RrCj

— Maktoum Bin Mohammed (@MaktoumMohammed) November 15, 2026