The 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice opened on September 26, 2026, at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi in the presence of H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the UAE. The Congress, which will run until October 1, 2026, brings together ministers, senior officials, judges, prosecutors, and experts from around the world to discuss crime prevention and criminal justice.
The opening ceremony was attended by a number of ministers of justice and interior, including Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice of the UAE and Chairman of the Federal Judicial Council. The ceremony also featured the screening of a film entitled "From Kyoto to Abu Dhabi," which chronicled the journey from the 14th Congress, hosted by Japan in 2021, to the 15th Congress in Abu Dhabi.
The UAE's Minister of Justice, Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, delivered the country's opening statement, highlighting the UAE's commitment to fostering cooperation and advancing partnerships to address cross-border challenges. He noted that the Congress comes at a pivotal moment marked by unprecedented global transformation, with emerging technologies presenting both opportunities and risks.
The Congress has attracted broad international participation, with representatives from more than 97 countries, including over 32 ministers of justice and interior ministers. The ceremony also featured an exchange of commemorative gifts between Japan and the UAE, symbolizing continuity in international cooperation and a shared commitment to building on the achievements and outcomes of previous Congresses.
Monica Juma, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), delivered remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations before the commencement of the High-Level Segment. The first day's agenda also included the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which serves as the Congress's principal political and strategic outcome document.
As part of the Congress, Abdullah Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi received the recommendations and outcomes of the "Young Voices for Justice" Forum, which brought together young people from the UAE and UN Member States to contribute their perspectives on key issues relating to crime prevention and criminal justice.
The 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will guide international priorities and cooperation in crime prevention and criminal justice. The Congress aims to develop crime prevention policies, advance criminal justice systems, and promote the rule of law, while fostering the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and best practices among governments, international and non-governmental organizations, and experts from around the world.
Key points
- The Congress has attracted broad international participation, with representatives from more than 97 countries.
- The UAE's Minister of Justice highlighted the need for international cooperation to address contemporary legal and criminal justice challenges.
- The Congress aims to develop crime prevention policies, advance criminal justice systems, and promote the rule of law.
