Qatar | Regulatory Framework
Status: in force
Effective: N/A
high QICDRC Practice Direction 1/2026 on use of AI in court proceedings
Practice Direction No. 1 of 2026 and Practice Guidance on the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Court Proceedings
I. Regulatory Summary
Law firms and legal advisors appearing before the QFC Court or Regulatory Tribunal should implement mandatory citation-verification and AI-use governance controls, including approved-tool lists, confidentiality rules, staff training, and disclosure templates for court-requested transparency.
II. Full Description
On 6 January 2026, the QICDRC announced the issuance of Practice Direction No. 1 of 2026 together with practice guidance on the use of AI in court proceedings. The instruments reinforce that legal representatives remain fully responsible for submissions, require independent verification of legal authorities (particularly when AI tools are used), and prohibit entering confidential or legally protected data into publicly accessible AI tools. The instruments also emphasize transparency: prior disclosure is not mandatory unless the Court requests it, but when requested, counsel must identify AI-assisted portions and explain verification steps.Sources: [{“name”: “Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC)”, “url”: “https://www.qicdrc.gov.qa/media-center/news/qicdrc-issues-practice-direction-no-1-2026-and-practice-guidance-use-artificial”, “lang”: “en”}, {“name”: “Qatar Tribune”, “url”: “https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/212839/business/qicdrc-sets-framework-for-responsible-use-of-ai-in-court-proceedings”, “lang”: “en”}, {“name”: “Qatar Tribune”, “url”: “https://www.qatar-tribune.com/article/212766/latest-news/qatar-international-court-issues-procedural-directive-governing-use-of-ai-in-litigation”, “lang”: “en”}]
III. Scope & Application
The QICDRC issued a practice direction and accompanying practice guidance governing the responsible use of AI tools in proceedings before the QFC Court and the Regulatory Tribunal. It applies to litigants and their legal representatives and sets expectations on verification of authorities, integrity of submissions, confidentiality protections, and transparency regarding AI-assisted drafting when requested by the Court.
IV. Policy Impact Assessment
Law firms and legal advisors appearing before the QFC Court or Regulatory Tribunal should implement mandatory citation-verification and AI-use governance controls, including approved-tool lists, confidentiality rules, staff training, and disclosure templates for court-requested transparency.
Primary Focus: procedural court ai rules