The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department announced the strengthening of judicial cooperation with Finland’s Ministry of Justice through enhanced exchange of expertise and best practices in the legal field. According to a statement from the department, the initiative aims to support quality standards in judicial services and training for professionals from both sides. The partnership will promote permanent coordination and communication channels to accelerate judicial work. Officials expressed confidence that the agreement will contribute to consolidating the rule of law at an international level.
The development comes as the UAE continues to build on its extensive framework for international judicial cooperation. Minister of Justice Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi stated in September 2026 that the UAE has more than 140 bilateral agreements with 53 countries covering extradition, mutual legal assistance and related areas. Figures from the ministry show a 235 percent increase in extradition requests between 2021 and 2025, reflecting growing global confidence in the UAE’s judicial system.
Finland’s Ministry of Justice pursues bilateral cooperation to advance the rule of law and support judicial reforms in partner countries, according to the ministry’s international cooperation overview. The Finnish body has previously established memoranda of understanding with nations including Ukraine to facilitate expert meetings and legislative information sharing. The collaboration with ADJD marks an expansion of such efforts into the Gulf region.
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Finland date back to 1975, with economic and technical cooperation agreements signed as early as 1982, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs records show. Total trade between the two countries reached EUR 842 million in 2024, underscoring the depth of their bilateral ties. The new judicial agreement builds on this foundation to cover legal and justice sectors.
The ADJD has signed multiple similar agreements in recent months, including one with the Ministry of Defence in June 2024 to exchange experiences in judicial and legal fields. That pact focused on training professionals and opening communication channels for faster processing of related work. Such initiatives align with directives from the Chairman of ADJD to enhance cooperation with institutions sharing similar responsibilities.
This latest agreement with Finland’s Ministry of Justice is expected to open avenues for joint studies and technical cooperation. Both parties will work on qualifying cadres and adopting international best practices in the judicial domain. The move further positions the UAE as a key player in global judicial networks.
