UAE expands judicial framework to stop cross-border crime and asset evasion

The UAE has established an integrated legal framework to prevent criminal suspects from using national borders to evade justice or hide illicit assets, Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Federal Judicial Council, said on Sunday, 27 September. Speaking at the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi, Al Nuaimi confirmed that the UAE is now party to 16 international and regional conventions. The country has also ratified more than 140 bilateral agreements with 53 nations, covering the extradition of wanted persons, mutual legal assistance, and the confiscation of criminal proceeds. Expansion of Legal Treaties The Ministry of Justice reported a sharp increase in international legal activity, with 30 per cent of its current bilateral agreements signed within the last five years. Al Nuaimi stated that four additional agreements are prepared for signature before the end of 2026, while two are under negotiation and eight are currently being drafted. To facilitate these legal mechanisms, the UAE held more than 35 bilateral meetings with central judicial authorities worldwide during 2026. This expansion aims to bolster national efforts in combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of proliferation. Unified Judicial Coordination The minister noted that effective enforcement relies on coordination between federal and local public prosecution authorities, the Ministry of Foreign…