Sharjah: The Sharjah Consultative Council has approved a draft law for the year 2026 aimed at regulating the profession of expert witnesses before judicial authorities in the Emirate of Sharjah. This approval followed a series of amendments and was granted during the Council's eighteenth and final session of the third ordinary session of the eleventh legislative term, which took place at the Council's headquarters in Sharjah.
According to Emirates News Agency, the session was chaired by Halima Al Owais, Chairperson of the Sharjah Consultative Council, where members deliberated on the draft law alongside a report from the Council's Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee. The session was attended by notable figures including Advisor Dr. Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Member of the Executive Council and Head of the Sharjah Government Legal Department, and Sheikh Faisal bin Ali bin Abdullah Al Mualla, Secretary-General of the Judicial Council.
During the eighteenth plenary session, the parliamentary chamber of the Sharjah Consultative Council witnessed extensive discussions on the articles of the draft law. These deliberations focused on the strategic objectives and legislative importance of the expert witness profession, which provides technical opinions to judicial authorities either verbally or in writing as per a judicial mandate or mutual agreement between disputing parties.
Members engaged in a comprehensive analysis of the legislation's main objectives, emphasizing the need to support the judicial system with qualified and recognized experts. They highlighted the importance of ensuring the accuracy of judicial rulings and decisions, as well as elevating the standard of professional practice in the expert witness field across the emirate.
The council members conducted a detailed examination of the legal instrument, reviewing conditions and procedures for registering expert witnesses, grievance mechanisms, the formation of the Expert Accountability Council, and the adoption of a professional code of conduct and ethics to ensure ethical practices. Licensing requirements, expert entitlements such as fees, and registration schedules for national and non-national experts were also discussed. Additionally, requirements for registering local and international expert witness firms and procedures for administering the legal oath to experts before commencing duties were considered.
Throughout their discussions, council members offered various opinions and observations on the draft law's articles, with government representatives providing clarifications on legal interpretations and practical implementations of the provisions.
Ultimately, the Council approved the draft law for 2026, regulating the expert witness profession before judicial authorities in Sharjah during its eighteenth plenary session. The session concluded with a closing ceremony marking the end of the third ordinary session of the eleventh legislative term of the Sharjah Consultative Council. In a speech by Halima Hamid Al Owais, she reflected on the Council's legislative journey, highlighting over nine months of dedicated work that resulted in eighteen plenary sessions and a comprehensive review of government department policies.