#UAE #justice - Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) has launched the first phase of its Judicial AI Platform, built with the Department of Government Enablement, Abu Dhabi’s government transformation body. ADJD describes it as the first integrated system of its kind globally to use AI in judicial and legal decision-making under full human oversight. Phase one introduces Judicial Assistant, which helps prosecutors and criminal court judges analyse cases, recommend decisions and draft judgments citing legislation and precedent. It forms part of an 18-month roadmap to extend the platform across judicial workflows.
SO WHAT? - Court systems typically adopt new technology slowly because errors can cost people their liberty. Abu Dhabi has chosen a model that keeps the judge in charge: the AI recommends and drafts, the judge decides. Drafts cite legislation and precedent, so reviewers can check the reasoning rather than simply trust it. The real test is whether checking a machine’s draft is quicker than writing one, and whether that holds in criminal cases, where the stakes are highest.
KEY POINTS:
Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) has launched the first phase of its Judicial AI Platform with the Department of Government Enablement (DGE), described as the first integrated system of its kind globally to support judicial and legal decision-making with AI under full human oversight and verification.
Phase one includes Judicial Assistant, which supports members of the Public Prosecution and criminal courts in analysing specific types of cases, recommending decisions and drafting judgments that reference relevant legislation and judicial precedents.
Final decisions stay with the judicial authority member, based on professional judgement and the law. AI recommendations are not binding and do not affect the independence of judicial decision-making.
The launch is the first step in an 18-month roadmap to complete the platform and expand its use across judicial workflows, following planning meetings by a joint steering committee earlier this summer.
Future phases will expand AI capabilities and integrate the platform with criminal, civil and other relevant ADJD systems, extending its reach beyond the prosecution and criminal courts covered in the first phase.
Planned additions include real-time translation, automated hearing records and advanced tools to detect forged documents, all aimed at improving the efficiency and accuracy of judicial processes.
ADJD says the platform combines smart technologies with judicial expertise to improve litigation efficiency, reduce procedural times, and raise accuracy, speed and consistency across judicial and legal decision-making.
The project follows directives from Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of ADJD, to modernise the judicial system in line with best practices and deliver swift justice.
ZOOM OUT - The Judicial AI Platform is one project inside a much larger programme. In January 2025, the Abu Dhabi Executive Council approved an AED13 billion ($3.54b) Government Digital Strategy, which aims to make Abu Dhabi the first government globally to integrate AI fully into its digital services by 2027. It calls for 100 percent sovereign cloud adoption, automation of every government process, a unified ERP platform and more than 200 AI solutions across public services. The Department of Government Enablement leads delivery, building on a decade of work that includes the TAMM platform. The strategy is projected to add AED24 billion ($6.53b) to Abu Dhabi's GDP and create more than 5,000 jobs.
[Written and edited with the assistance of AI]
Source: Egypt SIS, various
Read more AI adoption in Abu Dhabi’s judicial system:
Abu Dhabi to launch world’s first AI Judicial Platform (Middle East AI News)