Post by : Shweta
Qatar Plans Wider Use of AI in Courts
Artificial intelligence is set to play a growing role in Qatar’s judicial system during the new year.
The Supreme Judiciary Council has already launched a Smart Assistant through the judge’s platform at the Criminal Court. The system can assist with benchmarking against legal precedents, identifying relevant legal provisions and summarizing cases within a secure legal and procedural framework.
The Council plans to expand AI applications to civil courts and use the technology for analytical studies and services for litigants.
Remote Court Hearings and Digital Services Expand
Digital transformation is one of the central pillars of Qatar’s judicial development plans. In 2025, courts received approximately 109,981 requests through their electronic portal and application.
During the first quarter of 2026, another 8,596 electronic services were processed through the courts’ system and application. The Family Documentation Department also provided more than 65,000 electronic services during 2025.
The Council said remote litigation has demonstrated the readiness of Qatar’s digital court infrastructure. Courts have already heard more than 5,000 cases through video communication technologies, while legal memoranda can also be exchanged electronically.
156 Judicial Chambers to Operate Across Qatar
The new judicial year will begin with a total of 156 judicial chambers across Qatar’s courts.
The Court of Cassation will have six judicial chambers, while the Court of Appeal will have 14. The Investment and Commerce Court will have 33 first-instance and appellate chambers.
The Court of First Instance includes 10 civil chambers, 47 criminal chambers and 16 family chambers, along with 12 chambers under the Family Documentation Department. The Execution Court has 18 judicial chambers.
Qatar Reports Strong Case Disposition Rate
The Supreme Judiciary Council said Qatar’s courts recorded an overall case disposition rate of approximately 98.85 percent in 2025.
The figure was based on 210,513 cases filed across the courts. More than 50,000 cases were also registered during the first quarter of 2026.
The Council’s strategic pillars for the new judicial year include civil and administrative justice, criminal justice, commercial justice, digital justice, restorative justice, effective judicial enforcement, judicial governance, family cohesion and institutional excellence.
Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution Get More Focus
Qatar is also expanding its approach to resolving disputes outside traditional court proceedings.
The Supreme Judiciary Council said it will continue developing mediation and reconciliation systems, including electronic mediation and reconciliation services. Family reconciliation services will also be expanded.
The aim is to provide more flexible ways of resolving disputes, prevent cases from becoming unnecessarily prolonged and improve the overall efficiency of the justice system.
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WhatsApp Services Aim to Make Courts More Accessible
The Council is also expanding virtual employee services through WhatsApp, using process automation to provide certain judicial services directly to users.
The service is intended to allow people to complete several procedures and obtain documents without necessarily logging into the courts’ electronic portal.
The Council said expanding digital channels can reduce the need for in-person visits, simplify procedures and reduce the time and effort required from litigants.
New Judicial Year Signals Qatar’s Digital Justice Future
The 2026–2027 judicial year represents another stage in Qatar’s broader effort to modernize its justice system.
The Supreme Judiciary Council plans to continue updating judicial legislation, developing electronic procedures, expanding remote hearings, improving court facilities and strengthening the use of technology and AI.
With digital services, remote litigation, AI-assisted judicial tools and mediation becoming increasingly important, Qatar is positioning its justice system for greater efficiency, accessibility and sustainability while continuing to implement the objectives of its 2025–2030 strategy.
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