The UAE Ministry of Justice says a set of five AI agents has reduced the time judges need to review case files from several days to a few hours. The ministry demonstrated the system at the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, which runs at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi until 1 October.
The review process has seven stages. AI agents support five of them. The other two stay exclusively with the judge. The agents integrate with the ministry’s existing electronic court systems and work in sequence. One classifies documents and extracts key information. Another links facts and evidence and identifies the legal issues. A third compiles relevant legislation and precedents. A fourth summarises the options open to the judge. The last prepares a non-binding draft judgment, which the judge can amend, approve or reject.
Abdulrahman Murad Al Blooshi, Assistant Undersecretary for International Cooperation and Legal Affairs and general coordinator of the Congress, said the split is deliberate. “This approach ensures that judicial discretion and final decision-making remain entirely in the hands of the judge,” he said. He added that taking routine preparatory work off judges should give them more time for the substance of cases.
On the sidelines of the Congress, Justice Minister Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi also launched the “Guiding Principles for the Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems by Law Firms”, according to a ministry statement carried by Zawya. The document sets out ten core principles. It is meant as a practical reference for firms operating in the UAE and is tied to the Abu Dhabi Declaration’s language on responsible AI.
The statement does not list the ten principles, but Al Nuaimi’s remarks show where the emphasis lies. “No matter how advanced technology becomes, professional responsibility cannot be delegated,” he said. AI outputs must be reviewed and verified by a person, he said, and lawyers remain responsible for their accuracy and for their effect on clients’ rights and interests. He also named confidentiality as a priority.
For anyone involved in UAE litigation, the practical effect is not yet clear. The ministry has given no figures beyond “several days” to “a few hours” and has not said which courts or case types are covered. It said the agents will be rolled out progressively, after further evaluation, testing and integration with judicial partner entities.
The principles, by contrast, put the burden on lawyers. Firms that use AI for research or drafting will be expected to check the work themselves.
