Abu Dhabi Activates AI Assistant for Criminal Courts

Key Points

1. Prosecutors and criminal courts can use AI recommendations and draft judgments, while judges retain final authority.
2. The first phase sits within an 18-month rollout covering additional judicial systems and courtroom functions.
3. The launch advances Abu Dhabi’s $3.54 billion plan to become an AI-powered government by 2027.

The latest

Abu Dhabi has activated the first phase of an artificial intelligence platform that supports prosecutors and criminal courts by analyzing selected case categories, generating recommendations and preparing draft judgments. The system became operational on September 28, following development by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and the Department of Government Enablement. Its outputs are not legally binding: judges and prosecutors must review the evidence, legislation and cited case law, and remain solely responsible for final decisions.

Details

• Judicial model: The department describes it as the world’s first integrated AI platform for judicial and legal decision support under full human supervision. Drafts generated by the Judicial Assistant can include relevant legislation and case law for review by authorized judicial officials.
• Rollout timetable: Preparations for deployment began earlier in 2026 through a joint steering committee formed by the two departments. The initial operational stage is part of a broader 18-month implementation program that will progressively extend the platform beyond its current criminal justice use.
• Planned functions: Later phases are set to add real-time translation, automated courtroom transcription and tools designed to identify potentially forged documents. AI capabilities are also expected to reach civil and other relevant judicial systems, expanding into language processing, documentation and evidence verification.
• Department’s objective: Yousef Saeed Al Abri, Undersecretary of the Judicial Department, said the platform marks a new stage in digital transformation. He linked the combination of intelligent technology and judicial expertise to more efficient litigation and fewer procedural delays.
• Government investment: Abu Dhabi has allocated about $3.54 billion, equivalent to AED 13 billion, to its 2025–2027 digital strategy. The program covers sovereign cloud expansion, government-wide automation and more than 200 AI solutions across public services, with the goal of becoming an AI-powered government by 2027.
• Economic projections: Government projections estimate the strategy could add more than $6.53 billion, or AED 24 billion, to the economy by 2027 and support over 5,000 employment opportunities. The program is intended to move from standalone digital projects toward shared AI infrastructure across public services.

Background

In October 2025, the Department of Government Enablement, working with e&, inaugurated Abu Dhabi’s Unified Government Data Center. Facilities in Khalifa City and Al Ain provide 19 megawatts of combined capacity, serve more than 40 government entities and are designed for secure, AI-compatible workloads involving confidential data. The centers also support interoperability and higher-capacity AI processing.

What’s next

The next milestones in the 18-month program are the extension of AI support into civil and other judicial systems, followed by translation, transcription and document-screening tools. Judicial officials will continue reviewing outputs and issuing final decisions as each capability enters operation.