The litigation procedures in the UAE are governed by federal laws and depend on whether the case is of civil or criminal nature.

Civil procedures are regulated by Federal Law No. 11 of 1992, as amended and Cabinet Resolution No. 57 of 2018 Concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No. 11 of 1992 on the Civil Procedures Law, as amended.

The above law and its Executive Regulations regulate the method, procedures and jurisdiction for litigations in civil, commercial and personal status lawsuits. The law establishes the method of appealing and executing the judgements.

The Federal Law No. 35 for 1992, as amended lays down the criminal procedures, the method and procedures for criminal investigation, the trial of the accused and rendering judgement, the conditions for appealing a judgement at upper courts and the enforcement of judgement.