Abu Dhabi Creates Specialized Court to Prosecute Human Trafficking Cases
Judicial consolidation aims to streamline trafficking prosecutions and standardize legal protections.
Abu Dhabi’s judicial leadership has moved to consolidate human trafficking prosecutions under a single specialised court system, a structural shift designed to accelerate case handling and standardise legal protections across the emirate.
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department and also Vice President of the UAE and Deputy Prime Minister, issued Resolution No. 40 of 2026 to establish the court. The measure reflects a broader institutional commitment to what officials describe as comprehensive judicial specialisation in sensitive criminal matters.
The new court operates as an integrated judicial structure spanning multiple levels of the criminal justice system. At its foundation sits a specialised Public Prosecution unit tasked with investigating and prosecuting human trafficking offences. Above it sit Courts of First Instance and Courts of Appeal, each with explicit jurisdiction over trafficking crimes. This vertical integration is intended to create procedural consistency and reduce delays that might otherwise occur when cases move between general and specialised judicial bodies.
The resolution carries immediate operational consequences. All courts currently hearing human trafficking cases within Abu Dhabi must transfer those matters to the newly established court, with one exception: cases in which pleadings have already closed are permitted to remain in their current forum. The mandate applies to every human trafficking case arising within the emirate, ensuring that the specialised court becomes the sole entry point for new prosecutions and appeals in this category of crime.
Officials framed the establishment as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen judicial specialisation and deliver justice within reasonable timeframes. The resolution language emphasises enhancement of legal protection mechanisms and safeguarding of human dignity and rights, positioning the court as a direct response to the complexity and sensitivity of trafficking cases.
Implementation authority rests with the undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, who is tasked with issuing the necessary operational decisions to bring the court into functioning order. That official will also oversee the court’s exercise of jurisdiction to ensure it operates efficiently within the parameters set by the resolution.
By concentrating expertise, investigative resources, and adjudicatory authority within a single specialised framework, the emirate aims to reduce fragmentation and create conditions for faster, more consistent case resolution. Whether the court will also affect sentencing patterns, prosecution rates, or victim protections remains an open question as implementation proceeds.
Q&A
What authority issued the resolution establishing the specialized trafficking court?
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, Vice President of the UAE, and Deputy Prime Minister, issued Resolution No. 40 of 2026.
What judicial bodies comprise the new specialized court structure?
The court integrates a specialized Public Prosecution unit for investigations and prosecutions, Courts of First Instance, and Courts of Appeal, each with explicit jurisdiction over human trafficking crimes.
Which cases are exempt from mandatory transfer to the specialized court?
Cases in which pleadings have already closed are permitted to remain in their current forum; all other human trafficking cases must transfer to the specialized court.
Who holds implementation authority for the specialized court?
The undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department is tasked with issuing operational decisions to bring the court into functioning order and overseeing its exercise of jurisdiction.