On 11^th December 2025 the UAE government introduced several amendments in the civil procedures code[1]. The amendments are introduced through the Federal Decree Law No. 22 of 2025[2]. The changes are an attempt to modernize the civil judicial procedure, previously governed by the Federal Decree Law No 42 of 2022[3].

The amendment stresses on improving the quality of several critical areas such as dispute resolution, overall quality of judicial work to bring it at par with global legal standards. These amendments take effect on January 1, 2026, and aim to strengthen the UAE’s legal system. 

In this article, we will discuss the most significant changes introduced by the 2025 amendment. Read till the end to explore a detailed breakdown of the key amendments introduced under Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025, and learn what these changes mean for civil litigation, dispute resolution, and judicial efficiency in the UAE in 2026 and beyond.

Key Amendments introduced by the Civil Procedures Law 2025

1. Direct establishment of Inheritance Courts and Specialized Inheritance Chambers:

Article 32 of the Federal Decree Law No. 22 of 2025[4] has introduced critical procedural changes governing inheritance matters. Some of these changes are:

• Direct establishment of inheritance courts: Under the new law, inheritance courts are going to be established directly by the decision of the President of Federal Judiciary Council or the Local Judiciary Authority. This change marks a departure from the previous rule requiring consent of litigants for the creation of inheritance chambers. The law also introduces the establishment of specialised courts to hear specific civil or commercial cases upon request or agreement of parties. Such courts will be subject to same procedural rules, thereby enhancing specialisation. The aim is to expedite resolution process of complex and critical disputes.

• Exclusive jurisdiction over inheritance and related matters: The inheritance courts/chambers will have exclusive jurisdiction over all matters related and ancillary to inheritance, such as:

1. Estate administration, inventory, liquidation, division, and distribution
2. Civil, commercial, or real estate disputes arising from the estate
3. Disputes between heirs, guardians, trustees, and third parties
4. Matters relating to wills, waqf (endowments), inclusion/exclusion of heirs, and estate-related settlements

• Finality of Judgements: The judgements given by the inheritance courts is final in nature and not subject to regular appeal. However, parties may still opt for a petition for reconsideration. This ensures speedy resolution of inheritance disputes and prevents unnecessary re-litigation.

2.  Appellate Reforms:

The law has also brought amendments in the appeal filing procedure via Article 164. The new provisions overrule the previous practice of supplementing appeal grounds during the first hearing[5].

• Components of appeal: To strengthen procedural control, the new law prescribes that appeal should consist of a statement of the appealed judgment, its date, the grounds for appeal, and any requests. Non-compliance with this requirement will render the appeal inadmissible. Therefore, it is always advisable to engage experienced professionals like Khalifa Bin Huwaidan Advocates and Legal Consultants for ensuring compliance and avoiding procedural defects.

• Appeal to Court of Cassation: One of the most significant changes brought by the 2025 amendment is the enhancement of the appellate power of the Court of Cassation. Under the new law, parties can prefer appeal against judgements as well as decisions of the Court of Appeal[6]. This was missing in the previous law which only allowed for filing appeals against final judgements of the Court of Appeal.

• Attorney-General’s power to file appeals: Article 176 of the 2025 law introduces another significant provision that ensures that unlawful decisions do not evade judicial review[7]. Now the Attorney-General is empowered to file appeals even in cases where the parties have not exercised their right to appeal or have missed the appeal deadlines. However, the appeal should be filed within one year of the date of judgement.

The appeal can be filed either on the Attorney-General’s own initiative or at the request of the Minister of Justice or the head of the local judicial authority. This ensures that rights of parties are protected even when they are procedurally barred from appealing.

3.  Technical expertise:

To further enhance the quality of judicial outcomes, the law has introduced significant reforms in areas requiring technical expertise.

• Local or International Experts: The new law has strengthened the basis of judicial decisions by introducing the role of technical experts. The competent courts to engage local or international experts to prepare or review expert reports. The experts can be tasked with addressing deficiencies or correcting errors. This ensures that decisions are fair, accurate and reliable.

Therefore, enactment of Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025 marks a significant milestone in the evolution of UAE civil procedure law, strengthening dispute resolution, appellate review, and judicial efficiency. By introducing specialised courts, stricter appeal requirements, and enhanced use of technical experts, the amendments ensure faster, more reliable civil litigation outcomes.

[1] UAE Government Issues Federal Decree-Law Amending Certain Provisions of the Civil Procedures Code, Emirates News Agency (WAM) (online, 11 December 2025) https://www.wam.ae/en/article/bn5rrj4-uae-government-issues-federal-decree-law-amending

[2] Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025 on the Civil Procedures Code (UAE).

[3] Federal Decree-Law No 42 of 2022 on the Civil Procedures Code (UAE).

[4] Article 32, Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025 on the Civil Procedures Code (UAE).

[5] Article 164, Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025 on the Civil Procedures Code (UAE).

[6] Article 175, Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025 on the Civil Procedures Code (UAE).

[7] Article 176, Federal Decree-Law No. 22 of 2025 on the Civil Procedures Code (UAE).