Lawyers in the UAE enjoy a high standard of living. This is partly due to the international and financial nature of most roles, as well as the tax-free salaries.

• The work is fast-paced and highly competitive, and lawyers can expect to work long hours

• Over 200 different nationalities work in the legal sector in the UAE. Lawyers should also be aware of the local customs and culture such as the celebration of Ramadan and dress code.

In UAE, the constitution states that Islam is the country’s official religion, and its principles heavily influence the legal system.

These principles have formed the Sharia Law, which is based on the teachings of the Quran and the Hadith. The Sharia Law is applied in the Sharia courts, which deal with personal status matters, such as family law, inheritance and criminal law. On the other hand, civil matters and commercial disputes are dealt by civil courts.

This dual legal system ensures the country’s legal system is in tandem with the Islamic religious and cultural beliefs of the people. At the same time, ensuring that the Sharia Law is not absolute, nor letting the legal system fall behind the legal principles of the modern cosmopolitan society.

The UAE primarily focuses on punitive measures compared to rehabilitative ones. Prison conditions in the UAE are overcrowded and have lacklustre medical care. UAE prison conditions have reportedly included torture and sexual harassment.

Crimes such as drug use may result in imprisonment of up to 4 years. In 2022, a woman was sentenced to death in Abu Dhabi for the crime of drug smuggling, however, her sentence was overturned and she was sentenced to life instead. Drug related offences largely result in harsher penalties, but UAE has reformed, with the inclusion of mandatory rehabilitation programs as a part of the sentence.

The UAE is known to be an extremely wealthy country. However, wealth inequality that exists within the country means that not every single person is able to afford a lawyer.

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department created a ‘legal aid’ section as of 2011, which provides free legal aid and guidance to those in need pursuant to articles 25 and 28 of the UAE constitution.

The Dubai Courts employ the ‘Shoor’ legal advice program, through which authorised law firms are able to offer free and voluntary advice to individuals in need. Free advice is provided to financially distressed individuals before filing a case for a duration of 30–60 minutes.

The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai has a legal clinic program which provides free legal consultation from legal professionals to all residents of Dubai.