His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, enacted Law No. 13 of 2020, regulating the expert witness profession in Dubai. This law governs all activities connected to expert witness services in Dubai, aiming to provide judicial departments with technically and legally competent specialists who support the accuracy of court rulings.
According to Sheikh Mohammed’s official website, the law is intended to “enable the rapid administration of justice, accelerate court proceedings, and increase the quality and capabilities of expert witnesses.”
Role of Expert Witnesses in Legal Matters
In common law jurisdictions, the main goal of experts and expert witnesses is to help the client or the fact-finder, whether a judge, jury, or arbitrator, understand complex issues at stake in a case. Genuine expertise requires adequate knowledge and competence, attained through formal education or work experience in a specialized field.
While technical disputes (maritime, construction, and similar matters) are the most likely to involve an appointed expert, UAE courts frequently refer cases to experts for advice even in matters that don’t obviously appear to call for one at first glance.
Also check: Court Expert Witness
Under Article 69 of the UAE Federal Evidence Law (Federal Law No. 10 of 1992, as amended), a court may delegate matters to one or more experts where appropriate. No specific conditions are set out in Article 69 that must be met before the court exercises this power. Accounting experts are among the most frequently appointed.
Expert Witness: Definition
Under the law, an expert witness is a person with specialized expertise engaged by a court or the public prosecution to provide an oral or written opinion in a specific case.
The “Experts Register” maintained by the Dubai Courts requires expert witnesses and related consultancy organizations to be properly registered before offering these services.
Must check: Fraud / Forensic Expert
Constitution of the Experts Affairs Committee
The Dubai Courts establish the Experts Affairs Committee following a determination by the head of the Dubai Judicial Council. This committee issues the guidelines for expert designation and endorses the code of ethics and professional conduct governing the profession.
The committee also sets standards for expert fees. Its membership includes representatives of the Dubai Judicial Authority, experts listed with the Dubai Courts and other government agencies, and business sector representatives, with members of the Dubai Judicial Authority serving as the committee’s chairman and vice chairman.
The committee approves expert training programs and professional certification exams, and examines expert applications, registration cancellation or suspension requests, grievances, infractions, and complaints.
Establishment of a Dedicated Expert Affairs Unit
The Dubai Courts establish a dedicated unit for expert affairs, responsible for registration and categorization of experts. This unit also oversees and monitors expert activity, conducts technical assessments, investigates grievances and complaints, presents recommendations, and develops the charter of ethics and professional conduct governing the profession.
No person or organization outside the experts’ register may carry out any activity connected to offering expert witness services. Court authorities may assign case or incident-related work to a registered expert as needed. Experts must comply with all applicable state and local laws in addition to this law’s own requirements.
The Director-General of Dubai Courts may issue any decisions needed to implement the law. Those already listed in the Dubai Courts’ expert registry when the law took effect must come into compliance with it upon registration renewal, or within one year of the law’s implementation.
Prohibition on Unregistered Expert Witness Services
Except as provided by law, it’s forbidden for any person or business not listed in the expert register at the Dubai Courts to engage in any activity connected with rendering expert witness services. Court authorities may select any registered expert to carry out specific responsibilities connected to a case.
Beyond this Dubai-specific law, expert witnesses are also governed by applicable federal legislation, notably Federal Decree-Law No. 21 of 2022 and Cabinet Decision No. 17 of 2024, which regulate the expert profession before judicial authorities at the federal level, having replaced the earlier Federal Law No. 7 of 2012.
In some cases, a judge or arbitrator can’t reasonably be expected to independently handle complex technical issues, whether in financial disputes, commercial disputes, or technical construction matters. This is exactly why testimony from a qualified court expert witness matters. Experts able to explain complex issues clearly, supported by a well-documented report, help courts and arbitrators genuinely understand the case before reaching a judgment.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Law No. 13 of 2020 in Dubai?
What law currently governs the expert profession at the federal level?
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What does the Experts Affairs Committee do?
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Need Expert Advice?
Contact the team at Farahat & Co. for professional support and expert insights for businesses operating in the UAE.
How Farahat & Co. Can Help
Farahat & Co., a trusted Accounting Firm, provides registered court expert witness services across financial, accounting, and technical disputes before the Dubai Courts and federal judicial authorities.
Contact Farahat & Co. today to discuss your expert witness requirements.
