Katar
On January 6, 2026, the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC) issued Practice Direction No. 1 of 2026, establishing comprehensive guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in judicial proceedings. This directive applies to all litigants and legal representatives appearing before the Qatar Financial Centre Civil and Commercial Court (QFC Court) and the QFC Regulatory Tribunal.
The QFC Court and the QFC Regulatory Tribunal are integral parts of the QICDRC, established under Qatar Financial Centre Law No. 7 of 2005. These courts operate within a legal framework largely based on English common law, distinct from Qatar's ordinary courts, which follow a civil law system influenced by Sharia principles.
The directive acknowledges the potential benefits of AI technologies in enhancing efficiency and reducing costs in legal research and drafting. However, it emphasizes that AI should not replace human legal judgment. AI tools may support legal research, document drafting, summarization, and analysis, but must not generate evidence, witness testimony, or submissions without proper human oversight and verification.
Legal representatives remain fully responsible for the accuracy and reliability of all materials submitted, including AI-generated content. They must independently verify the accuracy of AI-generated content against authoritative primary sources. Strict confidentiality obligations apply, prohibiting the input of confidential information into unsecured AI platforms.
While automatic disclosure of AI use is not mandatory, the court may require parties to disclose and explain their use of AI. Misuse of AI may lead to adverse cost orders, procedural penalties, referrals to professional regulators, or other appropriate measures.
This directive represents one of the most comprehensive judicial frameworks governing AI use in court proceedings in the Arab region, underscoring a cautious yet forward-looking approach to integrating technology in legal practice.
