UAE Commits $5 Million to Drive Global Anti-Crime Efforts Under the Abu Dhabi Declaration

The UAE has pledged up to $5 million over the next five years to support the implementation of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, as the 15th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice opened in the capital on Saturday.

The declaration, approved and adopted by state members, establishes a framework for international cooperation on crime prevention, criminal justice, and the rule of law through to 2031. The UAE will contribute $1 million annually to turn the framework into concrete measures. The pledge was announced by Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Justice, who called on international partners to join the initiative.

“The UAE strongly supports the initiative to ensure the commitment will translate to measurable action,” said Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Justice. “On behalf of the UAE, I will make the first pledge. The UAE pledges to provide a total financial contribution of up to $5 million over the five years, with an annual contribution of $1 million.”

The declaration comprises 18 articles and 67 paragraphs centered on four main areas: prevention and resilience; justice and the rule of law; evolving and converging criminal threats; and innovation and cooperation.

“We encourage member states and international partners to join the initiative. Together we can ensure the outcome of this congress will be a lasting action,” Mr. Al Nuaimi added.

More than 110 countries, 5,100 participants, and delegations led by over 50 ministers have gathered in Abu Dhabi for the summit. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, welcomed attendees in a post on X.

“Safe and just societies are a shared responsibility, and lasting solutions are built through dialogue, cooperation and the sharing of expertise,” he said. “Abu Dhabi unites the world behind one goal: safeguarding people, advancing the rule of law, and shaping a more secure and stable future for all.”

Technology is expected to feature prominently throughout the summit, serving both as a tool for criminal networks and a resource for law enforcement. Monica Juma, executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, warned that criminal networks are exploiting artificial intelligence and digital currencies at a pace that challenges government responses.

“Technology is no longer simply accelerating existing criminal activity, but is changing the nature of crime itself,” Monica Juma said in Abu Dhabi. “The same digital currencies that move legitimate money are also being appropriated by criminals to conceal their profits.”

UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed echoed these warnings, noting that criminal networks exploit technology, governance gaps, and vulnerabilities tied to conflict and poverty. Japanese Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita also addressed delegates, emphasizing that no single country can achieve these safety goals alone and calling for unified global action.