UAE Civil Code reform: significant changes for insurers and reinsurers

In a series of articles to be published over the coming weeks, Kennedys will explore some of the most significant reforms from an insurer and reinsurer perspective. Each bulletin will address a discrete theme arising from the new Code.

The UAE has issued a new Federal Decree-Law (No.25 of 2025) issuing a revised Civil Code, coming into force on 1 June 2026. Amendments to the Civil Code are rare, and these reforms represent the most wide-ranging changes to UAE civil law in decades.

The new Code modernises and consolidates core principles governing contractual interpretation, liability and assessment of damages, introduces new legal obligations applicable to parties entering into contracts, and sets out a more structured framework for the application of laws. For insurers and reinsurers, the changes are significant: they affect how insurance contracts are interpreted, the assessment of disclosure and pre-contractual conduct, and the scope of recoverable damages.

To discuss these changes and how they will affect your organisation, please contact a member of our team. Stay tuned for the list of articles in the series.