UAE Overhauls Justice System with AI, Blockchain & the Metaverse

The UAE Public Prosecution has announced a bold digital transformation of its legal processes, integrating artificial intelligence, blockchain, and emerging technologies like the metaverse to revolutionize criminal case handling.

Unveiled at the Governance of Emerging Technologies Summit in Abu Dhabi, this initiative is a key part of the Public Prosecution’s 2045 long-term roadmap. The strategy aims to reduce case processing times by up to 100 percent, while improving accuracy, transparency, and security throughout the justice system.

Chancellor Salem Al Zaabi, Chief Prosecutor at the UAE Attorney General’s Office, shared how AI will be integrated at every stage of the legal process — from classifying complaints to case resolution.

“Artificial intelligence will be used to identify contradictions in evidence, interpret technical reports, and summarise complex legal files,” he explained.

AI will also help prosecutors prioritize police reports based on urgency and severity, enabling quicker and more informed decision-making. However, Al Zaabi emphasized that AI will be a support tool, not a replacement, with human prosecutors remaining central to all decisions.

Blockchain technology will play a pivotal role in securing evidence. It will track seized items, store sensitive digital data, and preserve the chain of custody, ensuring that legal evidence remains unaltered and tamper-proof.

“We must ensure that no one can access or alter this evidence,” Al Zaabi stated.

The initiative follows lessons learned from the UAE’s first cryptocurrency-related case, which exposed weaknesses in the legal system's ability to handle digital crimes. The complex case, which required months of external consultation and a 100-page report, led to a conviction but also highlighted the need for improved digital literacy among prosecutors.

Since then, specialized training programs have been introduced to equip prosecutors with the skills necessary to handle emerging crimes involving NFTs, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets.

Looking ahead, the Public Prosecution will use metaverse platforms and virtual reality to simulate crime scenes, providing courts and investigators with a more immersive understanding of incidents. Predictive AI models will also be used to identify criminal patterns, enabling early intervention.

To avoid bias, prosecutors will work closely with developers to design the algorithms powering these tools. “We will sit with the developers ourselves,” Al Zaabi said, stressing the importance of legal oversight in tech development.

The UAE also plans to enhance international cooperation by launching a platform to coordinate with public prosecution offices worldwide.

“Digital crime knows no borders,” Al Zaabi remarked, calling for unified global action against cyber threats. “We are not waiting for the future, we are shaping it. We will harness technology to protect rights, accelerate procedures, and deliver precise, humane justice,” he concluded.