His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Head of the Judiciary Council, attended the opening of the Sharjah Legal Forum 2026 on Thursday morning. The event, organised by the Legal Affairs Department of the Sharjah Government in collaboration with the Judiciary Council, was held at the Al-Razi Hall at the University of Sharjah.
Celebrating Legal Heritage and Community Stability
The ceremony commenced with the national anthem, followed by the recital of verses from the Holy Quran. Attendees then watched a video presentation detailing the forum’s objectives, highlighting the role of law in society, its contribution to family stability, and discussing the policies and legislation that support families in the Emirate of Sharjah.
Keynote Address by Minister Al Hamadi
Her Excellency Mariam bint Ahmed Al Hamadi, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the Cabinet, delivered the keynote address, expressing gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Sultan for his patronage of the forum. She noted that the subject discussed is pertinent to both the present and future of society, linking two fundamental pillars in community building: the family, which nurtures individuals, and the legislation that protects their rights and governs relationships.
Al Hamadi indicated that, following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the year 2026 has been designated “Year of the Family”. This initiative reaffirms the belief that community strength begins with a solid family foundation and underscores the importance of comprehensive policies, legislation, and initiatives that preserve familial integrity, enhance cohesion, and ensure sustainable investment in the stability of families for future generations.
Strengthening Family Values through Legislation
In her remarks, Al Hamadi emphasised the UAE’s significant support for families at various levels. She pointed out that the Constitution of the UAE stipulates that the family is the foundation of society, nurtured by religion, ethics, and love for the homeland, with the law ensuring and protecting its integrity. This constitutional provision establishes a clear national philosophy that asserts that state strength derives from the cohesion of families. This philosophy is embodied in the approach established by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, whose developmental vision for the emirate prioritizes human development and family stability as core objectives. Sharjah has translated this vision into an integrated system of institutions, policies, and initiatives that support families at all stages, safeguard children, empower parents, and enhance cultural identity and values.
Comprehensive Legal Framework for Family Protection
Al Hamadi reviewed the federal legislative framework in the UAE over recent years, which is fundamental to comprehensive and sustainable development, rooting the rule of law, enhancing state competitiveness, and boosting its global standing. She highlighted the family’s unique status within this legislative framework, particularly concerning personal status and family law, establishing it as a key element in safeguarding family stability.
Concluding her speech, Al Hamadi stressed that protecting and stabilising families is a shared responsibility, necessitating increased coordination and collaborative efforts among various federal and local institutions, the private sector, and civil society organisations.
Dr. Mansour Muhammad Bin Nasar Highlights Legislative Capacities
Dr. Mansour Muhammad Bin Nasar, Head of the Legal Affairs Department of the Sharjah Government, also spoke, praising Sheikh Sultan’s generous patronage of the event. He stated that the forum arises from a firm conviction that legislative strength does not merely derive from precise construction and wording but from its ability to resonate with reality, respond to changes, and foster community stability.
Bin Nasar highlighted that in Sharjah, the development of individuals is linked to a comprehensive approach endorsed by the leadership and integrated into various policies and initiatives. This focus on culture, knowledge, and values has cemented the belief that true development begins with individuals and that family stability is essential for a more cohesive society capable of facing challenges.
He concluded by noting that the rapid social and technological changes necessitate continuous development of the legislative framework to achieve a balance between preserving values and adapting to change, underscoring the significance of the forum, which brings together a distinguished group of officials, judges, lawyers, academics, and experts to discuss issues closely related to community stability and future challenges.
Panel Discussion: Legal Texts and Social Change
The opening ceremony included a panel discussion titled “Legal Texts: Stability and Development”, featuring speakers such as Dr. Obaid Ali Al Ali, Assistant Secretary-General for Legislative Affairs at the Cabinet General Secretariat, and Dr. Ahmed bin Mishar, Secretary-General of the High Legislative Committee in Dubai. They focused on how to achieve a balance between the stability of legal texts while ensuring they develop to meet evolving social, economic, and technological realities.
Dr. Obaid Ali Al Ali discussed the personal status laws rooted in Islamic law, emphasizing the unique conditions of family law, its core role in society, and the distinction between immutable provisions and those subject to change. He stressed that principles relating to fixed rights and obligations should remain constant, whereas protective measures can evolve with time to ensure accessibility and efficiency in family-related judicial processes.
Dr. Ahmed bin Mishar noted that each piece of legislation must have clear objectives, and the success of laws should be measured by their sustainability and compatibility with evolving socio-economic conditions. He stressed the importance of post-enactment monitoring to identify challenges encountered in practice.
Finally, Aisha bin Sufyan Al Suwaidi underscored the necessity for legal texts to be clear, adaptable to societal changes, and structured with rigorous definitions to ensure their applicability. She highlighted that legislative flexibility should be reflected in clarity of commands, adaptability in methodologies, and organized references, advocating for continual reviews to keep pace with circumstance changes.
The Role of Technology in Legal Systems
The panellists collectively acknowledged the positive potential of technology and artificial intelligence in assisting lawmakers and judicial authorities in analysing data and monitoring specific indicators.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi concluded the forum by recognising the sponsors and participants, appreciating their efforts in ensuring the event’s success.
Objectives of the Sharjah Legal Forum
The Sharjah Legal Forum serves as a platform for dialogue among officials, judges, legal professionals, academics, and specialists to explore legal and social issues relevant to the community’s dynamics. It underscores the intricate link between law and social reality, highlighting that family stability requires legislation and policies grounded in justice and societal values while responding to societal transformations.
The forum’s objectives include examining the relationship between legislation and family stability amidst social, economic, and technological changes; promoting the role of societal values in building resilient families; discussing mediation’s role in familial disputes; and raising awareness of digital challenges affecting family and child rights, privacy, and safety.
Additionally, it seeks to enhance dialogue and exchange of experiences among various legal, judicial, social, academic, and technical entities, proposing feasible ideas and suggestions aimed at supporting family stability and fostering a cohesive institutional framework.
Future Sessions and Topics
The forum features various sessions, including one that discusses “Community Values and the Vision of the Ruler of Sharjah”, focusing on the role of societal values in strengthening family and community cohesion.
Another session will delve into “Legal Alternatives for Family Dispute Resolution: Mediation and Reform”, highlighting the importance of proper direction for disputes from the outset to preserve rights and ensure family welfare.
Furthermore, a discussion on “Digital Challenges and the Future of Family” will examine the effects of the digital environment on family relationships and the responsible use of technology while addressing challenges associated with AI, misinformation, identity theft, and the need to cultivate an understanding of content verification.
During the forum’s course, Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi visited the accompanying exhibition, contributing to a message on the tablet reserved for the occasion, celebrating the Year of the Family and its implications for community building and values.
He engaged with representatives from various federal and local entities about the notable initiatives and programs executed in the family sphere, reviewing their outcomes and impacts on community stability and individual quality of life, alongside their role in addressing the challenges faced by families.
Sheikh Sultan also learned about significant legislative and policy developments informed by studies and indicators related to family needs, emphasizing improved protective measures and support mechanisms to enhance family cohesion and promote social stability.
Attending the forum alongside Sheikh Sultan were senior officials, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamid Al Qasimi, other dignitaries, and legal specialists, marking a significant step in reinforcing the legal structure supporting families in Sharjah.