Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025 introduces amendments to the UAE Civil Procedures Law issued under Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022. The Decree-Law was issued on 1 October 2025 and entered into force on 1 January 2026.
The Decree-Law introduces amendments to a number of procedural provisions of the Civil Procedures Law, including provisions relating to the establishment of specialised judicial circuits for inheritance matters, the assistance of local or international experts in such proceedings, the formal requirements for filing appeals, the scope of cassation review, and the authority of the Public Prosecutor in appellate proceedings.
Specialised circuits for inheritance matters
Article 32 of the Civil Procedures Law has been replaced to permit the establishment of one or more specialised judicial circuits by decision of the Chairman of the Federal Judicial Council or the President of the relevant local judicial authority, as applicable. Such circuits may be formed by way of secondment or appointment in accordance with the legislation governing each authority.
By way of exception to the provisions of Chapters 2 and 4 of Part 12 f the Civil Procedures Law, and the provisions of the Mediation and Conciliation Law, the specialised circuit is granted jurisdiction to adjudicate inheritance cases. This jurisdiction extends to disputes relating to the inventory of the estate, liquidation, division of assets, and distribution among heirs.
The circuit’s jurisdiction further includes any civil, real estate, or commercial claims arising from or connected with the estate, whether relating to ownership, liquidation, or other estate-related matters, and whether such disputes arise between heirs themselves or between heirs and third parties. The amended provision also covers disputes between heirs and guardians or persons in a similar capacity, as well as incidental applications concerning the inclusion or exclusion of heirs, wills, endowments, and settlements among heirs in respect of gifts, where such matters arise from or are inseparably connected to the estate.
The specialised circuit may seek the assistance of the Case Management Office and the Preparation Judge provided for under the Civil Procedures Law. It may also seek the assistance of one or more local or international experts to review or prepare expert reports, discuss such reports with the experts concerned, and order the completion of deficiencies or rectification of errors identified therein.
Judgments issued by the specialised circuit are not subject to appeal except by way of a petition for reconsideration, in accordance with the cases, controls, and procedures prescribed under the Civil Procedures Law.
The amended Article 32 further permits the Chairman of the Federal Judicial Council or the President of the local judicial authority, as applicable, to establish a specialised circuit to hear a civil or commercial action based on a request or agreement of the parties, in accordance with the same framework.
Filing requirements for appeals
Article 164 has been replaced to revise the formal requirements for filing an appeal.
Under the amended provision, an appeal must be filed by a memorandum of appeal deposited with the Case Management Office of the competent Court of Appeal. The appeal is to be registered immediately in the designated register or through electronic registration.
The memorandum of appeal must include the particulars of the appealed judgment, its date, the grounds of appeal, and the relief sought. Where these requirements are not satisfied, the appeal shall be ruled inadmissible.
In cases where the appeal is not filed electronically, the appellant is required to submit a number of copies of the memorandum of appeal equal to the number of respondents, together with one additional copy for the Case Management Office. Supporting documents must be attached to each copy of the memorandum.
Scope of cassation review
Article 175 has been replaced to define the scope of cassation review available to disputing parties.
Under the amended provision, the parties may file an appeal in cassation against judgments and decisions issued by the Courts of Appeal where the value of the claim exceeds AED 500,000 or where the claim is of indeterminate value, in specified cases. These include instances where the judgment or decision is based on a violation of the law, an error in its application or interpretation, procedural invalidity affecting the judgment or decision, lack of jurisdiction, or inconsistency with a prior judgment or decision rendered between the same parties on the same subject matter and having acquired the force of res judicata.
Cassation may also be sought where the judgment or decision is devoid of reasons, where the reasons are insufficient or ambiguous, or where the court has granted relief that was not sought or in excess of what was sought by the parties.
In addition, the amended Article permits a petition before the Court of Cassation against any final judgment or decision, regardless of the court that issued it, where the dispute has been adjudicated contrary to another final judgment or decision rendered between the same disputing parties and having acquired the force of res judicata.
Judgments or decisions issued by the Courts of Appeal in execution proceedings are expressly excluded from cassation review.
Cassation by the Public Prosecutor
Article 176 has been replaced to expand the authority of the Public Prosecutor in relation to cassation and review proceedings.
Under the amended provision, the Public Prosecutor may file a cassation or a petition for review, either on their own initiative or upon a request from the Minister of Justice or the President of the relevant local judicial authority. Such petitions may be filed against final judgments, regardless of the court that issued them, and against decisions issued by the Courts of Appeal sitting in chambers, where the judgment or decision is based on a violation of the law or an error in its application or interpretation.
This authority applies in cases where the law does not permit the disputing parties to file an appeal, as well as cases where the parties have allowed the time limit for appeal to lapse, have waived their right to appeal, or have filed an appeal that was ruled inadmissible.
The Public Prosecutor must file the petition by a memorandum signed by them within one year from the date of issuance of the judgment or decision. The Court of Cassation examines the petition in chambers, without summoning the disputing parties, and any decision issued operates for the benefit of the parties.
Conclusion
Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025 replaces key provisions of the UAE Civil Procedures Law concerning specialised judicial circuits, appellate filing requirements, cassation review, and the powers of the Public Prosecutor. The amended provisions apply from 1 January 2026 in accordance with the rules governing the application of procedural laws.
For practical advice on managing disputes under the revised UAE Civil Procedures framework, including the new specialised inheritance circuits and updated appeal and cassation procedures introduced by Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025, please contact Merline Dsouza at merline@alsuwaidi.ae.