UAE completes preparations to host 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi
The Fifteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice will open at ADNEC on 26 September 2026. The UAE says facilities and programmes are ready for delegations from more than 97 countries.
Congress to convene at ADNEC with international participation
The United Arab Emirates has announced the completion of preparations to host the Fifteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Abu Dhabi. The Congress will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from 26 September to 1 October 2026, with organisers expecting between 3,000 and 5,000 participants representing more than 97 countries.
The programme comprises a high‑level segment, plenary sessions, specialised committees, workshops and some 15 high‑level events, alongside more than 200 side meetings and an exhibition featuring 38 platforms. Organisers say 93 speakers are scheduled, with more than 32 ministers of justice due to attend; 62 high‑level participations have been recorded so far, of which 46 will attend in person and 16 virtually.
Objectives and anticipated outcomes
Hosting the Congress in Abu Dhabi is presented as an opportunity to strengthen multilateral cooperation on crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law. Central to the Congress is the Abu Dhabi Declaration project, intended to set priorities for the next five years. The draft declaration is structured around four pillars—prevention and resilience; justice and the rule of law; evolving and converging criminal threats; and innovation and cooperation—and comprises 18 articles and 67 paragraphs, with agreement reached on 98 percent of the text ahead of adoption during the high‑level segment.
The Congress agenda addresses organised and cross‑border crime, cyber‑crime, human and drug trafficking, money‑laundering, crimes affecting the environment, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence and other technologies in criminal justice. Delegates will consider measures to protect victims and vulnerable groups, recover assets, combat illicit financial flows and corruption, and enhance international cooperation in mutual legal assistance and extradition.
Organisation and local arrangements
Officials said committees covering organising, technical, media and international relations have coordinated with United Nations partners to ensure substantive and logistical arrangements. ADNEC Group stated the session will use more than 30,300 square metres of congress and exhibition space—a 31 per cent increase on the previous session held in Kyoto in 2021—and will be supported by Capital 360 for Event Experiences.
Preparatory work has included five regional meetings in 2025 and a Youth Forum scheduled for 24–25 September to boost young people’s participation. The UAE will preside over the Congress for the next five years, supporting follow‑up on its outcomes and promoting international dialogue and cooperation on justice and security.
Source: WAM