Abu Dhabi will host the largest edition yet of the United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, running from September 26 to October 1, 2026, in an event organisers say is roughly 31 percent bigger than any previous congress. Delegations from 97 countries are expected to attend, including 33 ministers and 93 speakers.
The programme includes 15 main events, more than 200 specialised meetings and 38 exhibitions, covering themes such as cross-border cooperation against organised crime, artificial intelligence ethics and safeguards, drug trafficking, money laundering, and crimes against children and women.
Among the notable additions to this edition is the congress's first-ever youth forum, held on September 24 and 25 ahead of the main sessions, along with the first formal participation of the private sector in the event's history.
The UAE's justice minister said security and justice are shared responsibilities, stressing that responses to crime must match its borderless nature. Organisers say the congress will conclude with the adoption of the Abu Dhabi Declaration, an 18-article document that will guide international cooperation on criminal justice for the next five years.
The UAE has said it will place particular focus during the congress on issues affecting children, youth and women, as well as artificial intelligence and environmental justice. Hosting the event further cements the UAE's role as a venue for major international gatherings, reinforcing the country's growing profile in global policy forums on security and justice.