Liechtenstein >> United Arab Emirates, Recommendation, 43rd Session, May 2023

The principle of judicial independence in the United Arab Emirates is rooted in the Constitution and the relevant federal laws. The matter is addressed explicitly in article 94 of the Constitution, which states: “Justice is the basis of governance. Judges are to be independent and are subject to no authority in the performance of their duties other than that of the law and their own consciences.” The United Arab Emirates have recently adopted several important pieces of legislation that contribute to strengthening the independence of the judiciary, including Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2022 on the Federal Judiciary, as well as other pieces that enhance access to justice through amendments to the Civil and Criminal Procedures Laws. The State also sought to continuously develop its penal and correctional facilities through increasing capacity and establishing a classification system, their suitability for the number of inmates, rehabilitation programmes and the quality of service provided to inmates. Moreover, it has established, through the Ministry of the Interior supportive organizational units to protect the rights of inmates, including the Oversight and Inspection Branch, as well as medical clinics designated for inmates.