Page 15 - SLC PR REPORT - MAY 2025

Press Release

SLC holds workshop on ‘The Impact of Language on Legal Drafting’

22 May 2025 - The General Secretariat of the Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of
Dubai (SLC) held an awareness workshop titled ‘The Impact of Language on Legal Drafting,’ as

part of its ongoing efforts to advance the quality of legislative frameworks and empower legal

professionals. This initiative reflects the SLC’s strategic focus on enhancing Arabic legal drafting
skills and promoting clarity and coherence in the legislation issued by the Government of Dubai.

The workshop, led by Salem Ibrahim Al Ahmad, Head of the Research and Publication Section at

the SLC Legislative Awareness Directorate, emphasised the importance of mastering precise
linguistic rules to draft clear, coherent legal provisions— an essential skill to prevent ambiguity

and misinterpretation. He also illustrated the differences between formal legal language and
everyday language through practical examples.

Key topics covered during the workshop included the characteristics and unique features of

Arabic legal language, such as precision, clarity, and formality. It also addressed how drafting
choices influence the meaning and interpretation of legislative provisions. Moreover, the session

highlighted common linguistic errors in legal drafting, such as redundancy and the use of indirect
expressions that may lead to ambiguity or legal loopholes. The workshop further introduced

methods for developing legal drafting skills, including the use of tools and techniques to enhance

linguistic proficiency. This involved reviewing samples of legislation and conducting contextual
analyses of different legislative drafting models.

H.E. Ahmad Saeed bin Meshar Al Muhairi, SLC Secretary General, affirmed that linguistic

precision is fundamental to effective legislative drafting, stating: “Clear legal provisions reduce
the risk of ambiguity, misinterpretation, and errors in implementation.” H.E. Al Muhairi added:

“The Impact of Language on Legal Drafting demonstrates the SLC’s ongoing commitment to
strengthening legislative drafting frameworks and expanding the knowledge base of legal