Eurojust and UAE Signed Judicial Cooperation Agreement
The framework aims to improve information sharing on financial and serious organized crimes between the two regions.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Financial Crime
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Eurojust has established a working arrangement with the United Arab Emirates to bolster cooperation against serious and organized crime. The agreement facilitates strategic information exchange and collaboration on offenses including money laundering, fraud, and cybercrime.
Why it matters
The deal addresses the growing reality that organized criminal activity increasingly operates across international borders. By prioritizing judicial ties in the Gulf region, Eurojust seeks to strengthen the global response to complex criminal networks.
This is Eurojust's 14th working arrangement with a non-EU nation, joining a broader network of 100 jurisdictions. The framework remains limited to strategic cooperation, as it does not currently authorize the exchange of personal data.
The players
Eurojust
This is the European Union agency responsible for judicial cooperation in criminal matters among member states.
United Arab Emirates
This federation of seven emirates is a strategic partner in the Gulf region for the European Union's cross-border crime prevention efforts.
European Commission
This is the executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation and implementing decisions.
The details
The partnership was formalized at the United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi. It supports collaboration through operational meetings, study visits, and the appointment of a specific Eurojust Contact Point to streamline cross-border investigations.
Timeline
A joint expert workshop between Eurojust and the UAE was held in July 2025.
On September 10, 2026, the European Commission recommended negotiating formal international agreements with eight countries.
The working arrangement was signed on September 28, 2026, in Abu Dhabi.
Legal Context
This arrangement follows a pattern set by the European Commission's September 2026 mandate to negotiate international agreements with eight nations. It marks a strategic step toward deeper cooperation while waiting for the legal basis required to exchange personal data.
The agreement aims to increase the efficacy of international investigations into fraud, money laundering, and cybercrime. These efforts are designed to reduce the success of organized criminal networks that exploit jurisdictional gaps to evade prosecution.
The takeaway
This partnership highlights the trend of international agencies seeking strategic cooperation to outpace criminal organizations operating in multiple jurisdictions. Future progress in this area will likely depend on establishing formal legal frameworks that permit the sharing of operational data.
What happens next
The European Commission expects to continue negotiations with eight countries to establish formal agreements that would authorize the exchange of personal data.
Further reading
Learn more about ongoing efforts to curb illicit financial flows in Financial Crime.
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Do you believe international judicial cooperation agreements are effective at reducing serious organized crime?
