In an interview with Al Bayan newspaper, H.E. Ahmad Saeed bin Meshar Al Muhairi, Secretary General of the Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai (SLC), announced that 252 pieces of legislation have been published in the Official Gazette of the Government of Dubai in 2024.
H.E. Al Muhairi emphasised that Dubai’s legislative framework is key to driving economic growth, enhancing social welfare, and improving the quality of life in the Emirate of Dubai. He elaborated that this framework, rooted in the noble Islamic Sharia, civil law, and customary law, is notable for its resilience and efficiency in addressing societal needs while effectively balancing traditional values with modern demands.
During the interview, H.E. Al Muhairi explained that Dubai’s legislative framework is both flexible and robust, designed to address contemporary challenges and adapt to global developments. He added that the legislative process is enriched by ongoing collaboration between the government and private sectors. Through consultative sessions with business leaders, investors, experts, and specialists, Dubai regularly develops and updates its legislation, ensuring it remains innovative, agile, and responsive to market needs.
Strategic Plan
H.E. Al Muhairi highlighted that the insightful directives of Dubai’s wise leadership to develop a proactive and future-oriented legislative ecosystem have charted the roadmap for the SLC strategies. The SLC’s updated 2024–2029 strategic plan aligns with the vision of the wise leadership to position Dubai as a leading global hub for business and investment.
H.E. Al Muhairi further noted: “The plan prioritises the development of adaptable and agile legislation that keeps pace with global changes, reflecting the UAE’s proactive approach to establishing the rule of law. By staying ahead of legislative trends, the SLC aims to establish a framework that protects investors’ interests and attracts businesses to the Emirate. With innovation at its core, the plan supports technological advancements, including artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain, to streamline legal procedures and enhance overall government efficiency.”
Transparency and Stakeholder Engagement
H.E. Al Muhairi added: “The updated SLC strategic plan embraces the principles of transparency and inclusivity by actively engaging stakeholders and community members in the legislative drafting process. This participatory approach enables the SLC to incorporate diverse perspectives, ensuring that legislation aligns with the needs of diverse sectors of the population and stakeholders.
In addition, the plan prioritises capacity building through the development of human resources and modern tools to support the efficient implementation of legislation. Training and qualification programmes are offered to professionals in the legislative sector, further enhancing expertise in this field. The updated 2024–2029 strategic plan reflects the SLC’s commitment to translating the directives of Dubai’s wise leadership into action. It ensures that the legal and regulatory frameworks are equipped to accommodate the ambitious aspirations of both the Emirate of Dubai and the UAE.”
H.E. Al Muhairi stated that the vision of the SLC, as outlined in the updated 2024-2029 strategic plan, is to achieve leadership in the legislation-making industry to meet the Emirate’s orientations and future requirements. Furthermore, the mission of the SLC focuses on enhancing the quality of legislation to align with future developments and emerging trends, and on creating a resilient and innovative legislative ecosystem that upholds justice and transparency, in collaboration with the concerned entities.
Goals
H.E. Al Muhairi explained: “The strategic plan is designed to achieve a set of strategic goals, namely: maintaining a balanced and sustainable legislative ecosystem, ensuring optimal legislative compliance, fostering a legislative culture, creating a distinctive institutional environment, institutional empowerment for the future, and achieving excellence in service delivery and operations.
As for the SLC objectives, they include developing agile, balanced, and sustainable legislation; ensuring proper implementation of legislation; achieving highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in the provision of legal advice; and promoting legislative awareness among government entities. Other objectives include achieving stakeholder satisfaction by enhancing their experience, nurturing talent and human resources capacity-building for the future, achieving digital empowerment, and embracing innovation in operations”.
Economic Sustainability
H.E. Ahmad Saeed bin Meshar emphasised that Dubai’s legislative ecosystem is a driving force behind sustainable economic growth, stimulating progress across various vital sectors, boosting confidence in the investment environment, and enhancing the ease of doing business in Dubai.
He explained: “Flexible legislation and policies significantly enhance the attractiveness of Dubai’s investment climate, drawing a broader range of investors and capital. Indeed, legislation plays a critical role in promoting economic diversity and empowering innovation by protecting intellectual property rights and regulating emerging economic sectors. This motivates the business community to translate innovative concepts into successful ventures.”
H.E. Al Muhairi also highlighted that legislation supports strategic initiatives, such as renewable energy projects, and ensures environmental sustainability by protecting natural resources. These efforts reinforce Dubai’s position as a smart city and a global hub for trade, investment, and tourism.
Legislative Lab
H.E. Ahmad Saeed bin Meshar underscored the importance of the Legislative Lab as a strategic initiative designed to advance legislative processes in Dubai by enhancing the government sector’s understanding of legislation. The Legislative Lab provides an interactive platform for reviewing and analysing legislation to ensure alignment with Dubai’s development goals.
He stated: “The Legislative Lab plays a key role in analysing legal texts and policies and addressing them from the perspective of Dubai’s strategic objectives and its Eight Principles.”
He stated: “The Legislative Lab offers a collaborative environment for analysing and proposing legislative provisions and policies from the perspective of Dubai’s strategic goals and Eight Principles.”