These are the four ways to get free legal aid and guidance in UAE

 Emadeddin Khalil, Staff Reporter

The UAE Digital Government (DGOV) revealed four official channels that provide legal and judicial aid for those who cannot afford the legal fees.

This is in accordance with the UAE's Constitution, which stipulates that everyone must find an easy access to the competent lawyer, and that the economic and social circumstances must not preclude anyone to get easy access to justice. 

The services offered include legal guidance and counseling, assigning a lawyer, expertise expense deposit, and publishing announcement expenses.

The provision of these services to the beneficiaries relies on eligibility criteria in terms of the seriousness of case and the level of income.

Ministry’s free legal service

It said that the Ministry of Justice offers free legal consultation of court documents to those individuals who are unable to pay.

ADJD free legal aid

In addition, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) offers free legal aid services to poor/needy people and guide them legally and neutrally to support their right of easy access to justice.

Services include advocacy services, settlement of expertise fees and publishing notices in the newspapers.

The aid is based on certain eligibility criteria such as the seriousness of the case and the income of the beneficiary of the service. 

‘Shoor’

The DGOV also explained that the Dubai Courts launched free legal consultation programme 'Shoor' (consult us) service, where authorised law firms offer free voluntary legal consultations to litigants. Each firm has the right to specify the number of hours for which they can offer consultation per month.

The Litigant Guidance division of Dubai Courts supervises the implementation of the programme and brings litigants in touch with the participating law firms.

Legal clinic

The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai also runs the Legal Clinic programme, which provides free legal consultation services to all Dubai residents. Through agreements with CDA, professional lawyers respond to public enquiries received by the authority.

The legal clinic aims to raise the community's awareness of their legal rights according to the Child Protection Act and the Personal Status Law.

For more information, you can contact CDA through 800-3232 or [email protected].