Between 2021 and 2025, international judicial cooperation requests received by the United Arab Emirates saw significant growth, with mutual legal assistance requests increasing by 244% and extradition requests rising by 235%, according to data presented by Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Federal Judiciary Council. Speaking at the thematic meeting “Enhancing International Judicial Cooperation: The UAE’s Experience and Global Partnerships,” within the high-level segment of the 15th United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Congress in Abu Dhabi, Al Nuaimi attributed these figures to the trust international partners place in the country’s legal and judicial framework.
Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance Numbers in 2025
During the previous year, the UAE received 576 extradition requests, with courts issuing decisions in 178 of them while the remaining requests stayed under review or awaited further information. The country also received 547 mutual legal assistance requests, prompting authorities to send 710 reminder messages to follow up on missing information and accelerate processing.
Al Nuaimi noted that the UAE is party to 16 global and regional agreements and has signed more than 140 bilateral treaties with 53 countries. These agreements cover extradition, mutual legal assistance, asset freezing and confiscation, evidence gathering, and the transfer of sentenced persons. Approximately 30% of these bilateral treaties were signed over the past five years, while four additional agreements are ready for signing before the end of the year, two are under negotiation, and eight are in the draft stage.
Did You Know? The UAE’s ICAS digital system for international judicial cooperation reduced the time needed for certain procedures from seven days down to five minutes, while cutting staff effort by roughly 80%.
Operational Cooperation and Case Examples
The minister outlined practical examples of international cooperation, including a case involving Ireland where local authorities arrested Daniel Kinahan, a senior leader of the Kinahan organized crime group, within 48 hours of receiving an extradition request. Following a full judicial review and a final ruling by the Dubai Court of Cassation, the extradition was executed on August 9.
In another case involving France, cooperation concerning four individuals led to the identification, tracking, and seizure of 82 properties in the UAE last November after the Dubai Public Prosecution executed the request. Al Nuaimi stated that voluntary extradition takes an average of five days, whereas completed mutual legal assistance requests take an overall average of 35 days, compared to an international guideline range of 60 to 180 days.
Global Crime Frameworks at the Abu Dhabi Congress
The disclosures were made during the thematic meeting titled “Enhancing International Judicial Cooperation: The UAE’s Experience and Global Partnerships,” held during the high-level segment of the 15th United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Congress in Abu Dhabi, which runs through October 1, 2026. Al Nuaimi emphasized that crime no longer respects borders, meaning no single nation can tackle transnational crime in isolation.
Federal legislation provides a strong foundation for these efforts, encompassing anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and the financing of proliferation, alongside the application of the reciprocity principle in the absence of a treaty. Domestic coordination involves federal and local courts and prosecution offices working alongside the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, supported by more than 35 bilateral meetings held with counterpart central authorities worldwide in 2026.
UAE mutual legal assistance and extradition statistics
What percentage did mutual legal assistance requests grow by between 2021 and 2025?
Mutual legal assistance requests grew by 244% during that period.
How many extradition requests did the UAE receive last year?
The UAE received 576 extradition requests last year, with courts issuing decisions in 178 of them.
How many bilateral agreements does the UAE currently hold?
The UAE has more than 140 bilateral agreements in force with 53 countries.
How do you view the ongoing expansion of the UAE’s digital and legal judicial networks in combating transnational crime?
Worth a look