Law
No. (11) of 2025
Establishing the
Dubai Judicial Expertise Centre[1]
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We, Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai,
After
perusal of:
Federal Law by Decree No.
(21) of 2022 Regulating the Practice of Expert Witness Profession before the
Judicial Authorities;
Federal Law by Decree No.
(35) of 2022 Issuing the Law of Evidence Governing Civil and Commercial
Transactions;
Federal Law by Decree No.
(42) of 2022 Issuing the Civil Procedure Code;
Law No. (6) of 2005
Regulating the Dubai Courts and its amendments;
Law No. (1) of 2016
Concerning the Financial Regulations of the Government of Dubai, its
Implementing Bylaw, and their amendments;
Law No. (13) of 2016
Concerning the Judicial Authorities in the Emirate of Dubai and its amendments;
Law No. (8) of 2018
Concerning Management of the Government of Dubai Human Resources and its
amendments;
Law No. (13) of 2020
Regulating Expert Witness Work before the Judicial Bodies in the Emirate of
Dubai;
Law No. (26) of 2023
Concerning the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai;
Decree No. (60) of 2023
Regulating the Transfer of Employees in the Government of Dubai; and
Resolution No. (4) of 2023
Concerning the Expertise and Disputes Settlement Department at His Highness the
Ruler's Court,
Do hereby issue this Law.
This Law will be cited as
“Law No. (11) of 2025 Establishing the Dubai Judicial Expertise Centre.”
The following words and
expressions, wherever mentioned in this Law, will have the meaning indicated
opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise:
|
Emirate: |
The
Emirate of Dubai. |
|
Ruler: |
His
Highness the Ruler of Dubai. |
|
Government: |
The
Government of Dubai. |
|
Law: |
Law
No. (13) of 2020 Regulating Expert Witness Work before the Judicial
Authorities in the Emirate of Dubai, or any superseding legislation. |
|
Executive
Council: |
The
Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai. |
|
Judicial
Council: |
The
Judicial Council of the Emirate. |
|
Chairman: |
The
Chairman of the Judicial Council. |
|
Courts: |
The
Dubai Courts regulated pursuant to the above-mentioned Law No. (6) of 2005,
including the Court of Cassation, the Court of Appeal, the Courts of First
Instance, the Probate Court, and any other court to be established therein. |
|
Public
Prosecution: |
The
Public Prosecution of the Emirate. |
|
The
Rental Dispute Settlement Centre in the Emirate of Dubai. |
|
|
Judicial
Bodies: |
These
include the Courts, the Public Prosecution, the RDC, and the Tribunals formed
in the Emirate pursuant to legislation issued by the Ruler or the Chairman. |
|
DJEC: |
The
Dubai Judicial Expertise Centre established pursuant to this Law. |
|
Board
of Directors: |
The
board of directors of the DJEC. |
|
Executive
Director: |
The
executive director of the DJEC. |
|
EDSD: |
The
Expertise and Disputes Settlement Department at His Highness the Ruler’s
Court. |
|
Expert Witness Work: |
Activities
performed by an Expert Witness assigned by a Judicial Body to provide verbal
or written expert technical opinions on a case or incident. |
|
Expert
Witness: |
Any
natural or legal person who practises Expert Witness Work, including an
Expert Witness Firm; an Expert Witness appointed to the DJEC; an Expert
Witness registered on the Roll; an Expert Witness from among the employees of
the EDSD who is registered on the Roll; and an Expert Witness from among the employees
of a Government Entity or the private sector who is not registered on the
Roll and who is engaged by the Judicial Bodies or the DJEC to perform Expert
Witness Work. |
|
Expert Witness Firm: |
A
corporation or company licensed by the competent commercial licensing
authority in the Emirate to perform Expert Witness Work. |
|
Roll: |
A
paper or electronic record maintained by the DJEC in which Expert Witnesses
who satisfy the conditions and requirements stipulated in the Law are
registered in accordance with their technical specialisation. |
Pursuant to this Law, a
public corporation named the "Dubai Judicial Expertise Centre" is
established. The DJEC has legal personality and the legal capacity required to
undertake the acts and dispositions required for the achievement of its
objectives. The DJEC is hereby affiliated to the Judicial Council.
The head office of the DJEC
will be located in the Emirate. Other branches and offices of the DJEC may be
established within the Emirate pursuant to a resolution of the Board of
Directors.
The DJEC aims to:
1.
support the Judicial Bodies by providing technically
qualified local and international Expert Witnesses who are registered on the
Roll and specialised in Expert Witness Work, thereby contributing to the
issuance of just and equitable judgements;
2.
develop and empower national Expert Witnesses who are
qualified to perform Expert Witness Work before Judicial Bodies;
3.
develop the Expert Witness framework in the Emirate in
accordance with international best practices;
4.
enhance the quality and efficiency of Expert Witness Work in
the Emirate, thereby contributing to the accuracy of judgements and ensuring
the delivery of prompt justice; and
5.
enhance the confidence of litigants in the Expert Witness
Work performed before Judicial Bodies.
Without prejudice to the
functions of the EDSD stipulated in the legislation in force in the Emirate,
the provisions of this Law apply to Expert Witness Work, Expert Witnesses,
Expert Witness Firms, the EDSD, and all Persons who are entrusted with carrying
out Expert Witness Work before the Judicial Bodies. The provisions of this Law
do not apply to:
1. Expert Witnesses
appearing, and Expert Witness Work carried out, before the Dubai International
Financial Centre Courts;
2. Expert Witnesses
appearing, and Expert Witness Work carried out, before arbitration tribunals;
and
3. Government
Entities and their Employees whose expert technical opinion is solicited by a
Judicial Body in respect of an investigation or a claim that is being heard by
that Judicial Body.
For the purpose of achieving
its objectives, the DJEC is hereby vested with the duties and powers to:
1. develop the
general policy and strategic plans for Expert Witness Work in the Emirate, and
submit the same to the Board of Directors for approval in preparation for final
approval by the Judicial Council;
2. regulate and
supervise all matters related to Expert Witness Work and Expert Witnesses, and
to the practice of Expert Witness Work before Judicial Bodies, in accordance
with the relevant rules adopted by the Board of Directors;
3. exercise all the
functions vested in the Courts and the Organisational Unit responsible for
managing the affairs of Expert Witnesses within the Courts, and the committees
referred to in the Law;
4. nominate Expert
Witnesses to provide technical opinions on the applications, investigations,
disputes, and claims assigned by Judicial Bodies to the DJEC, in accordance
with the relevant rules adopted by the Board of Directors in this respect;
5. establish the
rules and controls for nominating Expert Witnesses to provide technical opinions
on the applications, investigations, disputes, and claims assigned by Judicial
Bodies to the DJEC;
6. audit and inspect
Expert Witness Work and Expert Witnesses in accordance with the provisions of
this Law, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and other legislation in
force in the Emirate;
7. conduct studies
related to regulating Expert Witness Work, make the necessary proposals for
developing the same and addressing the challenges associated with it, and
submit the same to the Board of Directors to give the relevant directives as it
deems appropriate;
8. organise and
participate in conferences, workshops, and training courses for Expert
Witnesses at the local and international levels, with a view to improving their
competencies, developing their skills, and sharing success stories;
9. propose new, and
review existing, legislation, bylaws, and regulations related to Expert Witness
Work, in coordination with the concerned entities in the Emirate;
10. enter into
partnerships and cooperate with international Expert Witness Firms and local,
regional, and international entities specialised in the DJEC’s areas of work;
11. prepare and
qualify UAE National cadres specialised in areas related to Expert Witness
Work, implement training programmes for Expert Witnesses, and coordinate in
this respect with the concerned entities in the Emirate;
12. establish the
required electronic linkage with Judicial Bodies and Expert Witness Firms, and
electronic communication channels with Expert Witnesses, in a manner that
enables the DJEC to achieve its objectives, and to efficiently and effectively
perform its entrusted duties; and
13. exercise any other
duties or powers required for the achievement of the objectives of the DJEC
that are assigned to it by the Ruler or the Chairman, or assigned to it under
the legislation in force in the Emirate.
The DJEC will have the
following organisational levels:
1. the Board of Directors; and
2. the executive body.
The DJEC will be supervised
by a Board of Directors chaired by the Director of the Courts and comprising a
number of specialised and experienced members representing Judicial Bodies and
non-judicial bodies. Members of the Board of Directors will be appointed
pursuant to a resolution of the Chairman, upon the recommendation of the
Secretary General of the Judicial Council.
a. The Board of
Directors will undertake general supervision of the DJEC, and ensure that it exercises
its functions under this Law, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and
other legislation in force in the Emirate. In particular, the Board of
Directors will have the duties and powers to:
1. approve the
general policy and strategic plans of the DJEC and the general policy for
Expert Witness Work; and submit the same to the Judicial Council for final
approval;
2. approve the
operational, technological, and development plans of the DJEC;
3. approve the draft
annual budget and Financial Statements of the DJEC, in preparation for their
submission by the DJEC to the competent entities in the Emirate for final
approval, in accordance with the legislation in force;
4. approve the
Organisational Structure of the DJEC and present the same to the Chairman for
approval, in preparation for its submission by the DJEC to the competent
entities in the Emirate for final approval, in accordance with the legislation
in force;
5. issue the bylaws
and resolutions regulating Expert Witness Work and the affairs of Expert
Witnesses, including, without limitation, the rules governing the registration,
assignment, and engagement of Expert Witnesses; the assessment of expertise
security deposits and Expert Witness fees; the conduct of technical evaluations
and inspections of Expert Witnesses; the imposition of disciplinary measures
against Expert Witnesses, and any other rules related to Expert Witness Work
and Expert Witnesses;
6. approve the fees
and charges for the services provided by the DJEC, in preparation for their
final approval by the competent entities in the Emirate in accordance with
applicable legislation;
7. prepare the annual
report on Expert Witness Work and submit the same to the Judicial Council for
approval;
8. form permanent and
temporary committees and work teams to assist the Board of Directors and the
DJEC in exercising their duties and powers; and determine the functions and
terms of reference of these committees and work teams;
9. form technical
committees responsible for regulating the affairs of Expert Witnesses and
Expert Witness Work, including classifications of the Roll, the registration of
Expert Witnesses on the Roll, the renewal of their registration, their
deregistration, the audit and inspection of Expert Witnesses and Expert Witness
Work, and the consideration and determination of violations related to Expert
Witness Work and any acts committed in breach of the provisions of the Law;
propose the remuneration of the members and rapporteurs of such committees; and
submit the same to the Chairman for approval; and
10. exercise any other
duties or powers required for the achievement of the objectives of the DJEC, as
assigned or delegated to the Board of Directors by the Chairman.
b. Except for the
powers vested in it under sub-paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3),(a)(4), (a)(5),
and (a)(9) of this Article, the Board of Directors may delegate any of its other
powers under paragraph (a) of this Article to a committee formed of members of
the Board of Directors, or to the Executive Director, provided that such
delegation is specific and in writing.
a. The Board of
Directors will adopt a governance framework for its work. This framework must prescribe
the procedures for convening meetings of the Board of Directors, passing its
resolutions and recommendations, determining the duties of its chairman and
members, and addressing other matters related to its governance.
b. A rapporteur will
be appointed to the Board of Directors from amongst the Employees of the DJEC
pursuant to a resolution of the chairman of the Board of Directors.
c. The remuneration
of the chairman and members of the Board of Directors will be determined
pursuant to the relevant resolution issued by the Chairman.
a. The DJEC will have
an executive body comprising the Executive Director and a sufficient number of
Expert Witnesses and administrative, finance, and technical Employees.
b. The executive body
will comprise a number of administrative organisational units supervised by the
Executive Director.
c. The executive body
of the DJEC will be responsible for the operational and executive work of the
DJEC, and for following up the implementation of the resolutions and
recommendations issued by the Board of Directors.
d. The
above-mentioned Law No. (8) of 2018 and the resolutions issued in pursuance
thereof apply to the Employees of the DJEC.
a. An Executive
Director will be appointed to the DJEC pursuant to a resolution issued by the
Chairman of the Executive Council, upon the recommendation of the Board of
Directors and with the approval of the Chairman.
b. The Executive
Director will supervise the work and activities of the DJEC and will be
directly responsible to the Board of Directors for exercising the duties and
powers vested in him pursuant to this Law, the resolutions issued in pursuance
hereof, and other legislation in force in the Emirate. In particular, the
Executive Director will have the duties and powers to:
1. develop the
general policy and strategic plans of the DJEC, and the general policy for
Expert Witness Work, and submit the same to the Board of Directors for
approval, in preparation for submission to the Judicial Council for final
approval;
2. develop the
operational, technological, and development plans, and work programmes of the
DJEC; submit the same to the Board of Directors for approval; and follow up on
their implementation;
3. prepare and
develop the programmes required by the DJEC for performing its functions under
this Law, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and other legislation in
force in the Emirate;
4. prepare the draft
annual budget and Financial Statements of the DJEC, and submit the same to the
Board of Directors for approval, in preparation for subsequent referral to the
competent entities in the Emirate for final approval in accordance with
applicable legislation;
5. propose the
Organisational Structure of the DJEC and submit the same to the Board of Directors
for approval and then to the Chairman for further approval, in preparation for
its submission to the competent entities in the Emirate for final approval in
accordance with the legislation in force;
6. nominate members
for the technical committees of the DJEC, and submit the nominations to the
Board of Directors for approval;
7. propose the fees
and charges for the services provided by the DJEC; and submit the same to the
Board of Directors for approval, in preparation for submission to the competent
entities in the Emirate for final approval in accordance with applicable
legislation;
8. undertake daily
supervision of the performance and work of the executive body of the DJEC;
9. represent the DJEC
before third parties; and conclude the contracts, agreements, and memoranda of
understanding related to the work of the DJEC;
10. follow up on the
civil and criminal lawsuits brought against Expert Witnesses arising from or as
a result of performance of their duties; prepare reports on these lawsuits; and
submit the same to the Board of Directors to issue the relevant directives it
deems appropriate;
11. appoint Expert
Witnesses and administrative, finance, and technical Employees to the DJEC;
12. prepare the annual
report on the work and performance of the DJEC, and submit the same to the
Board of Directors for approval, in preparation for submission to the Judicial
Council for final approval;
13. form permanent and
temporary work teams to assist the Executive Director in performing his duties;
and determine the duties, powers, and terms of reference of these work teams;
and
14. exercise any other
duties or powers related to the achievement of the objectives of the DJEC, as
assigned or delegated to him by the Board of Directors.
The financial resources of
the DJEC will consist of:
1. the financial
appropriations allocated to the DJEC in the General Budget of the Government;
2. the movable and
immovable property allocated to the DJEC by the Government;
3. the fees and
charges for the services provided by the DJEC; and
4. any other
resources approved by the Chairman.
a. In managing its
accounts and records, the DJEC will apply the rules and principles of
government accounting.
b. The Financial Year
of the DJEC will commence on 1 January and will end on 31 December of the same Year,
except that the first Financial Year will commence on the date on which this
Law comes into force and will end on 31 December of the following Year.
a. Where a Judicial
Body decides to appoint an Expert Witness in respect of any of the
applications, investigations, disputes, or claims pending before it, it must
assign the requested Expert Witness Work to the DJEC. The DJEC will then appoint
one of the Expert Witnesses registered on the Roll to perform the requested
Expert Witness Work. If a specialised Expert Witness is not available, the
Expert Witness Work may be performed by any of the Expert Witnesses employed by
the DJEC, or by appointing an Expert Witness who is not registered on the Roll
to perform the work.
b. The Judicial Body
may appoint any Expert Witness registered on the Roll to perform Expert Witness
Work instead of assigning this to the DJEC. In this case, the Expert Witness
must be appointed in accordance with the rules and procedures prescribed by the
relevant resolution of the Board of Directors.
c. The Judicial Body
may assign Expert Witness Work to any Expert Witness who is not registered on
the Roll or seek the assistance of a Government Entity to perform the Expert
Witness Work. The resolution issued by the Judicial Body to assign Expert
Witness Work to the Expert Witness or to seek the assistance of the Government
Entity must include the following details:
1. a description of,
and the scope of, the Expert Witness Work assignment; and
2. the security
deposit amount that must be paid into the treasury of the Judicial Body to
cover Expert Witness Work expenses and Expert Witness fees.
d. The Board of
Directors will issue the rules and procedures governing the appointment and
engagement by the DJEC or the Judicial Body of Expert Witnesses to perform
Expert Witness Work before Judicial Bodies, in accordance with the provisions
of this Article. In addition, the Board of Directors will issue the controls
governing the performance of Expert Witness Work; the assessment of the
security deposit and expenses of Expert Witness Work, and the fees payable to
Expert Witnesses who are not employed by the DJEC; and the procedures for the
deposit and disbursement of such amounts, as well as other relevant matters.
a. As of the date on
which this Law comes into force, the following will be transferred to the DJEC:
1. all the duties and
functions vested in the Courts and the RDC that relate to internal organisational
matters falling within the jurisdiction of the DJEC under this Law, as well as
the functions of the Courts relating to the regulation, supervision, and
monitoring of Expert Witness Work, as stipulated in the Law and the resolutions
issued pursuance thereof;
2. the Expert Witness
Roll maintained by the Courts in accordance with the Law;
3. the ownership of
the assets, devices, equipment, and other property of the Courts and the RDC
that are relevant to the functions of the DJEC under this Law;
4. the Employees of
the Courts and the RDC working in the Organisational Units exercising the
powers and functions vested in the DJEC under this Law, and the Employees to be
transferred to the DJEC upon mutual agreement with the Courts and the RDC, as
well as the financial appropriations allocated to these Employees by the
Department of Finance, in accordance with the provisions of the above-mentioned
Law No. (1) of 2016 and Decree No. (60) of 2023, and other legislation in force
in the Emirate and without prejudice to their existing rights; and
5. the financial
appropriations allocated by the Department of Finance, in the annual budget of
the Courts and the RDC, for the activities and functions to be performed by the
DJEC under this Law, the resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, and other
legislation in force in the Emirate.
b. All rights and
obligations of the Courts and the RDC, in respect of matters falling within the
functions of the DJEC under this Law, are hereby transferred to the DJEC.
a. A Steering
Committee will be formed pursuant to a resolution of the Chairman, to:
1. oversee the
implementation of the provisions set out in Article (17) of this Law;
2. designate the
Organisational Unit and the technical committees to be established within the
DJEC to exercise the duties and functions vested under the Law in the Director
of the Courts, in the Organisational Unit in charge of Expert Witnesses’
affairs at the Courts, and in the Expert Witness Affairs Committee, until the
bylaws and resolutions regulating the affairs of Expert Witnesses and Expert
Witness Work before the DJEC are issued. The Organisational Unit and the
technical committees must be designated pursuant to the relevant resolution
issued by the Chairman; and
3. perform any other
duties assigned to the Steering Committee by the Chairman.
b. The Steering
Committee must perform its duties under paragraph (a) of this Article no later
than three (3) months from the date of its formation. The Chairman may, upon
the request of the Steering Committee and based on the relevant reports it
prepares, extend this time limit for such period as he deems appropriate.
The Courts and the RDC will
continue to exercise the functions related to the supervision of Expert Witness
Work and the affairs of Expert Witnesses, in accordance with the legislation in
force in the Emirate, from the date on which this Law comes into force until
the date on which the Steering Committee discharges its mandate under paragraph
(b) of Article (18) of this Law.
In return for registering
Expert Witnesses on the Roll, and providing services under this Law and the
resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, the DJEC will collect the fees
prescribed by the relevant resolution of the Chairman of the Executive Council.
All Government Entities in
the Emirate must fully cooperate with the DJEC; meet its requirements; and
provide it with the data, information, documents, statistics, reports, and
studies that it requires and deems necessary for the achievement of its
objectives and the exercise of its functions under this Law, the resolutions
issued in pursuance hereof, and other legislation in force in the Emirate.
With the exception of the
resolutions which the Chairman of the Executive Council or the Chairman is
exclusively authorised to issue under this Law, the Board of Directors will
issue the resolutions required for implementing the provisions of this Law.
a. Any provision in
any other legislation is hereby repealed to the extent that it conflicts with the
provisions of this Law.
b. The manuals and
resolutions applicable at the Courts and the RDC which are related to the
supervision of Expert Witness Work and the affairs of Expert Witnesses, as well
as the manuals and resolutions issued in implementation of the Law, will
continue in force to the extent that they do not conflict with this Law and the
resolutions issued in pursuance hereof, until new superseding manuals and
resolutions are issued.
This Law will be published in
the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which it is
published.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Ruler of Dubai
Issued in Dubai on 16 August 2025
Corresponding
to 22 Safar 1447 A.H.
©2026 The Supreme
Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai
[1]Every effort
has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this
legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application,
reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the
Arabic text will prevail.
[AL1]Since we are following the government entity in using RDC (instead of RDSC), we should be consistent and adopt the full name Rental Dispute Centre here and elsewhere. Otherwise we are contradicting ourselves.