Dubai Judicial Council Welcomes New Assistant Secretary-General

The Dubai Judicial Council has reached a key milestone with Justice Dr. Abdulrahman Juma Mohammed Sharaf joining as Assistant Secretary-General. His Highness Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum confirmed this appointment through Decree No. (13) of 2025, which takes effect from March 1, 2025. This move builds on Dr. Abdullah Saif Al-Sabousi’s appointment as Secretary General in July 2024, showing the steady rise of Dubai’s judicial leadership.

The appointment reflects Sheik Mohammed’s vision to uphold fairness and the rule of law in Dubai’s legal system. These leadership changes help Dubai Courts boost their steadfast dedication to protecting society and reinforcing justice. Sheik Maktoum bin Mohammed and Sheik Ahmed bin Mohammed recently attended the swearing-in ceremony of 12 new judges at the Rental Disputes Center and Dubai Courts. This ceremony highlights the leadership’s commitment to deliver exceptional judicial services that meet global legal standards.

Sheik Mohammed Appoints New Assistant Secretary-General

“Justice is fundamental to maintaining the social security, besides sustaining progress and prosperity.” — Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

His Highness Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has named Justice Dr. Abdulrahman Juma Mohammed Sharaf as the Assistant Secretary-General of the Dubai Judicial Council through Decree No. (13) of 2025. Dr. Sharaf previously held the position of Senior First Instance Judge at The Rental Dispute Settlement Center in Dubai.

The leadership’s steadfast dedication to improve Dubai’s judicial framework became evident with this appointment, which became effective March 1, 2025. This decision supports the broader vision to enhance the emirate’s legal system, especially after approving new strategic plans for Dubai’s judicial entities.

Dubai Courts’ 2023-25 strategic plan focuses on six main areas:

• Digital transformation
• Competitiveness
• Governance and business continuity
• Strategic foresight
• Improvement of judicial services
• Creating innovative work environments

The Dubai Public Prosecution’s 2022-2030 strategic plan wants to achieve 12 strategic objectives. These include protecting rights and freedoms, digitalizing the prosecution system, and enhancing judicial enablers. Nine projects support the Dubai Strategic Plan 2030.

The Dubai Judicial Institute’s 2023-2025 strategic plan outlines 13 strategic objectives in six priority areas. We focused on promoting judicial education and knowledge. The detailed training plan includes 83 training sessions in five most important areas: basic training, continuous training, judicial expertise, administrative skills, and international and future trends.

Sheik Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Deputy Ruler, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the Dubai Judicial Council, believes building the judicial sector’s capabilities and enhancing Dubai Judicial Authority members’ skills are the foundations of improving the local judicial system’s efficiency. Dr. Sharaf’s appointment marks another step toward achieving these objectives while maintaining the highest standards of transparency and integrity in Dubai’s judicial framework.

Dubai Courts Implement Digital Transformation

“The Smart Room embodies Dubai Courts’ vision for pioneering innovation and providing proactive services that boost user confidence and satisfaction. It epitomizes our commitment to elevating the justice system through advanced technological solutions, supporting Dubai’s goal of building a fully integrated and sustainable digital society.” — Mohammed Ahmad Al Obaidli, Executive Director of the Case Management Sector, Dubai Courts

Dubai Courts reached a major milestone in its digital transformation by winning the top spot in the ‘Digital Government’ award for GCC States in 2023. The innovative ‘Digital Case File’ initiative proves the courts’ commitment to advanced legal processes.

This digital transformation covers several breakthrough innovations. The eFiling system works as a central platform that lets lawyers and clients file cases electronically and access judgments. The system verifies claims, checks data accuracy, and confirms submitted documents. It also handles payments and automatically sends notifications and receipts to users.

The Case Management System (CMS) has simplified court operations substantially. It processed 2,408,188 requests and aided 344,329 remote litigation sessions. The digital case file service now has 389,259 active users, including legal professionals and clients.

Dubai Courts recently launched the ‘Smart Room’ project with advanced features such as:

• Smart glass for privacy protection
• Advanced soundproofing systems
• Motion-sensor-based ventilation
• Advanced equipment including tablets, ID readers, and electronic payment systems

This digital shift produced impressive results. The service processed 139,432 smart payment orders and maintained 100% service continuity for three years. System integration with other government platforms made it more available to residents and visitors.

The digital case file service started in 2017 and finished in 2020. It continues to grow based on improvement reports and user needs. The service focuses on user-friendly features with minimal information requirements and simplified storage processes. Dubai Courts’ excellence in digital innovation earned three awards at the 15th edition of the Stevie Awards.

Live translation services, interactive user interfaces, and video conferencing capabilities are now part of this transformation. These features work under strict information security protocols to protect data and maintain confidentiality. Dubai Courts shows its steadfast dedication to building an efficient, available, and advanced legal system through these initiatives.

Expert Analyzes Impact on UAE Legal System

Dubai’s judicial framework has seen major improvements through new initiatives. The Judges Career Paths project boosts judicial competencies with three distinct tracks: Specialized, Elite, and Leadership. This detailed framework helps develop qualified, specialized judges who strengthen Dubai’s global position in the legal sector.

The project shows clear progress in judicial development. Each track serves a unique purpose under the Judicial Coordination Affairs Council’s supervision. Judges begin with the Specialized Track to gain expertise in specific legal fields. The Elite Track then develops exceptional judges into expert resources within courts. This track requires Emirati citizenship and proven competency.

Dubai Center for Judicial Technical Expertise is a vital step toward quality and compliance in expert reports. This center manages technical experts who appear before Dubai judicial entities and applies a detailed governance system.

New quantitative metrics and timelines ensure expert witnesses deliver swift, high-quality reports. The system has a mechanism to inspect expert witness performance when they register or re-register in expert rosters.

Dubai Judicial Council has made substantial progress since its 2021 restructuring. Reports show completion of 223 studies in research, legislative, and developmental areas. Legislation related to judiciary and its members increased by 86% compared to the previous four years, achieving full legislative compliance.

New systems led to more than 100% increase in judicial authority member appointments. The General Secretariat finished eight internal development projects and supported 17 projects through collaboration with judicial authority entities. These projects include Dubai Judicial Inspection Authority’s development, establishment of an Inheritance Court, and formation of a Board of Commissioners for Dubai Court of Cassation.

Dubai’s judicial system is pioneering legal excellence through strategic leadership appointments and technological advancement. Dr. Abdulrahman Juma Mohammed Sharaf’s appointment deepens the Dubai Judicial Council’s commitment to world-class legal standards.

The courts’ digital transformation shows remarkable results. The Digital Case File initiative has processed over 2.4 million requests and enabled 344,329 remote litigation sessions. These improvements highlight the system’s accessibility and streamlined processes.

Specialized career paths and technical centers help develop detailed judicial expertise that sustains excellence in legal proceedings. Dubai’s Center for Judicial Technical Expertise has established reliable quality control measures for expert testimonies and reports.

Dubai Judicial Council has made impressive strides since 2021. The council completed 223 studies and increased judiciary-related legislation by 86%. These achievements position Dubai’s legal system as a model of state-of-the-art efficiency and justice that meets future challenges while maintaining the highest legal practice standards.