The UAE has committed $5 million over five years, or $1 million annually, to support implementation of the "Abu Dhabi Declaration," a pledge announced as the 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice opened in the UAE capital on Saturday. UAE Minister of Justice Abdullah Al Nuaimi unveiled the commitment during the congress's opening session.
The Abu Dhabi Declaration is a framework document comprising 18 articles and 67 paragraphs meant to guide international cooperation on crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law through 2031. It centres on four pillars: prevention and resilience, justice and the rule of law, evolving criminal threats, and innovation and cooperation.
This year's congress has drawn delegations from more than 110 countries, with roughly 5,100 participants and delegations led by more than 50 ministers, making it one of the largest international gatherings hosted by the UAE this year.
In his remarks, Al Nuaimi stressed that safe and just societies require stronger international cooperation. Monica Juma of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said technology is no longer simply accelerating existing criminal activity but is changing the nature of crime itself. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed warned that criminal networks are exploiting technology and the governance gaps created by conflict and poverty.
By hosting the congress and backing the declaration with a multi-year financial pledge, the UAE is positioning itself as an active player in multilateral legal and security diplomacy, officials said, at a moment when transnational crime increasingly intersects with technology and global instability.