Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi Witnesses the Launch of Sharjah Legal Forum 2026

H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Judicial Council, today witnessed the launch of the Sharjah Legal Forum 2026, organised by the Sharjah Government Legal Department in cooperation with the Judicial Council, at Al Razi Hall, University of Sharjah.

The ceremony opened with the national anthem, followed by a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. The audience then watched a visual presentation on the forum, covering its concept, the message of the law in society and its contribution to the stability of families, and the set of policies and legislation that serve the family in the Emirate of Sharjah.

H.E. Mariam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary General of the Cabinet, delivered the forum's keynote address, in which she expressed her thanks and gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi for his generous patronage of the forum, which discusses a subject that touches the present and future of society and brings together two fundamental pillars of community building: the family, which raises the human being, and legislation, which safeguards his rights and regulates his relationships.

H.E. said that, under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and in view of the great attention the country gives to the family, 2026 was designated the “Year of the Family”, affirming that the strength of society begins with the strength of the family, and the importance of integrating the policies, legislation and initiatives that support it, in a manner that safeguards its entity, strengthens its cohesion, and makes investment in its stability a sustainable investment in the future of the nation and its coming generations.

The Secretary General of the Cabinet addressed the great care the UAE devotes to the family at all levels, saying: the UAE Constitution provides that the family is the foundation of society, founded on religion, morals and love of the homeland, and that the law guarantees its entity and safeguards it. This constitutional provision does not lay down an abstract legal rule; it establishes a clear national philosophy which holds that the strength of the state begins with the cohesion of the family.

She added: this philosophy is clearly embodied in the approach laid down by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, who made building the human being and the cohesion of the family the starting point of the emirate's development project, on the basis that community development begins at its very roots. The Emirate of Sharjah has translated this vision into an integrated system of institutions, policies and initiatives that care for the family at its various stages, support its cohesion, protect the child, empower parents, and promote culture, identity and authentic values.

Counsellor Dr. Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Chairman of the Sharjah Government Legal Department, also delivered a speech in which he valued the generous patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi and his presence in honouring the opening of the forum, noting that the forum stems from a firm conviction that legislation does not derive its strength from the precision of its structure and drafting alone, but from its ability to touch reality, respond to its changes, and strengthen the stability of society.

The Chairman of the Sharjah Government Legal Department pointed out that rapid social and technological transformations impose new challenges that call for continuous development of the legislative system, so as to strike a balance between preserving values and constants on the one hand, and the ability to keep pace with change on the other.

The opening ceremony included a panel discussion entitled “The Legal Text between Stability and Development”, addressed by Counsellor Dr. Obaid Ali Al Ali, Assistant Secretary General for Legislative Affairs at the General Secretariat of the Cabinet; Counsellor Dr. Ahmad bin Meshar, Secretary General of the Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai; and Counsellor Aisha bin Sufyan Al Suwaidi, Director of the Sharjah Government Legal Department.

Counsellor Dr. Ahmad bin Meshar focused in his remarks on legislative amendments, noting that every piece of legislation is issued with objectives and purposes it seeks to achieve, and that the measure of a law's success is its continuity and its achievement of those purposes and objectives, as well as economic, social and technological transformations, in a clear and stable manner.

Counsellor Aisha bin Sufyan Al Suwaidi addressed the legal text in terms of the importance of its clarity and its ability to respond to the developments witnessed by society, balancing stability and flexibility, and focusing on definitions and concepts so that the text is applicable. She noted that legislative flexibility can be summarised as clarity of purpose, flexibility of means, disciplined cross-references, and the text's capacity for review when circumstances change.

H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi honoured the forum's sponsors and participants, expressing his appreciation for their efforts in making the forum and its activities a success.

The Sharjah Legal Forum is a dialogue platform bringing together officials, judges, legal practitioners, academics and specialists to discuss legal and social issues connected to the reality of society and keeping pace with its transformations.

The forum proceeds from the close link between the law and the social reality it regulates, and from the premise that family stability requires legislation, policies and services grounded in justice and community values, while at the same time responding to social, economic and technological transformations.

The forum aims to discuss the relationship between legislation and family stability in light of social, economic and technological change; to highlight the role of community values in building a cohesive family and strengthening shared responsibility towards it; to discuss the role of mediation, reconciliation and family guidance in managing family disputes and protecting rights; to raise awareness of the digital challenges affecting the family, the child, privacy and safety; to promote dialogue and the exchange of expertise among legal, judicial, social, academic and technical bodies; and to put forward ideas and proposals open to study and development that contribute to supporting family stability and enhancing the integration of institutional roles.

The forum's themes include a number of sessions. The second-theme session, entitled “Community Values in the Thought of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah”, discusses the standing of community values and their role in consolidating the position of the family as the foundation of society's stability and cohesion; how the values of identity, belonging, solidarity and responsibility are translated into policies, initiatives and services that support the family, strengthen prevention and protection, and respond to the needs of its members with dignity and privacy; and the integration of the roles of social, awareness and service bodies in strengthening family stability, supporting children, protecting the child, and consolidating shared responsibility among the family, society and institutions.

The third-theme session, “Legal Alternatives for Resolving Family Disputes: Mediation and Reconciliation”, discusses the role of mediation and reconciliation in dealing with family disputes; the importance of directing every dispute from its outset to the path most suited to its nature and circumstances, in a way that preserves rights and serves the interests of the family and its members; along with the safeguards needed for reconciliation paths to succeed, from confidentiality, voluntariness and the fairness of agreements, to identifying the cases in which settlement is appropriate and those that require protection or judicial intervention.

The fourth-theme session, entitled “Digital Challenges and the Future of the Family”, reviews the impact of the digital environment on family relationships, the family's responsibility for guidance and protection, and the roles of platforms, institutions and competent authorities in reducing digital risks and coordinating the safe and responsible use of technology.

The theme also addresses challenges linked to artificial intelligence, misleading content, identity impersonation and extortion, and the importance of building awareness about verifying content and dealing correctly with risks when they occur.

On the sidelines of the forum, H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi visited the accompanying exhibition, where His Highness took part in writing a message on the tablet dedicated to the occasion in celebration of the “Year of the Family” and the meanings it carries reflecting attention to the family as the fundamental pillar in building society, promoting family values and consolidating the bonds of affection and cohesion among its members. His Highness viewed the family-related initiatives and programmes presented at the exhibition, which highlights the efforts made by various entities to strengthen the standing of the family and its role in building a cohesive society.

His Highness listened to a briefing from representatives of the participating federal and local entities on the most prominent initiatives, programmes and studies implemented in the field of the family, the results and indicators recorded so far, and the solutions and practices these initiatives offer to support the family and empower its members. His Highness learned about the key outputs and results reflecting the impact of these efforts in strengthening family and social stability, in a way that supports the quality of life of family members and consolidates the family's role in building a more connected and cohesive society.

The Chairman of the Judicial Council was briefed on the most prominent legislation and policies developed on the basis of the results of studies, data and indicators relating to the family, and the tangible impact they have had in supporting family stability and enhancing the quality of life of its members, such as updating legal and regulatory frameworks in line with the family's needs and developments, and providing more protection and support for its members, in a way that helps address the challenges facing the family and translates the results of studies and initiatives into effective legislation and practices with a direct bearing on family cohesion and social stability.

The opening of the forum was attended, alongside His Highness, by Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development; Sheikh Majid bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Suburbs Affairs; Sheikh Sultan bin Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Director of the Department of Statistics and Community Development; Sheikh Faisal bin Ali Al Mualla, Secretary General of the Judicial Council; H.E. Abdullah bin Sultan Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice; H.E. Mariam bint Ahmed Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary General of the Cabinet; and a number of senior officials, heads and directors of government entities, and legal affairs specialists.

Source: Emirates News Agency (WAM)