Post by : Maya Rahman

In The Hague, Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, the UAE's Minister of Justice, engaged with Foort van Oosten, the Minister of Justice and Security of the Netherlands. Their discussions aimed to strengthen bilateral judicial cooperation, particularly focusing on issues like transnational organized crime, money laundering, and financial misconduct requiring robust international collaboration.

The ministers reiterated their dedication to the rule of law, international justice, and transparency. They highlighted the ongoing menace of cross-border criminal activities, which pose serious challenges to global security and stability. The need for effective judicial collaboration and mutual legal support was emphasized as key to tackling these issues and upholding both regional and global order.

Al Nuaimi described the dialogue as a pivotal step in bolstering legal partnerships between the UAE and the Netherlands. He underscored the UAE's resolve to expand its judicial collaboration with not just the Netherlands but the wider European region. The discussions pointed to the necessity of working together in addressing organized and financial crime, including the illicit use of virtual assets, while optimizing efforts to identify, seize, and recover illegal profits.

The UAE’s advancements in digitizing judicial services were also highlighted, with Al Nuaimi expressing willingness to share these innovations with the Netherlands to boost efficiency, transparency, and modernization. The implementation of digital systems is expected to enhance case management and judicial communications, thereby fostering quicker and more reliable justice.

Minister van Oosten applauded the UAE’s role in promoting international judicial partnerships. He acknowledged positive outcomes from the Bilateral Treaties on Extradition and Mutual Legal Assistance that became effective in August 2023. Since then, the UAE has processed 11 extradition requests, with six pending and 17 under investigation. Ten successful extraditions were reported in 2025 alone, showcasing the operational trust developed between the ministries.

The growing focus on asset tracing, freezing, and confiscation was another highlight of their conversation, aimed at disrupting transnational crime syndicates. They vowed to enhance coordination, exchange best practices in financial investigations, and step up regulation of virtual assets to effectively combat organized crime.

The ministers concluded their meeting by reaffirming a shared commitment to progress and the strengthening of legal frameworks and institutional relationships. They intend to continue enhancing collaborations against cross-border crime, uphold justice, and ensure safety for both countries, scheduling another meeting in Abu Dhabi.

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