UAE Enacts New Civil Procedure Law to Accelerate Legal Disputes

The UAE has implemented a major overhaul of its judicial framework through Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 on Civil Procedure. The updated law replaces the previous 1992 legislation, introducing mandatory digital litigation processes and new mechanisms for debt recovery designed to shorten the duration of civil and commercial disputes. Digital Litigation and Electronic Summons A primary feature of the updated law is the formalization of electronic service of process. Court summons and legal notifications are now legally valid when sent via recorded email, SMS, or other verified electronic communication methods. This shift eliminates the delays previously associated with physical process servers and manual delivery to residential or business addresses. The law also mandates the use of remote trial technology. Courts are now authorized to conduct hearings, witness testimonies, and expert depositions through video conferencing. These digital procedures are integrated into the "Case Management Office," which oversees the preparation of cases before they reach a judge, ensuring that all documentation is complete and reducing the number of required hearings. Streamlined Debt Recovery…