Age of Majority at 18 in the UAE: Contracts and Financial Transactions

Under the new Civil Transactions Law, the age of majority is 18 Gregorian years. General civil capacity must still be considered alongside any applicable restrictions, special legislation and the nature of the transaction.

Check the person’s birth date, transaction date, legal capacity and any required authority, approval or licence. For a transaction predating 1 June 2026, assess the temporal rules instead of assuming the new threshold applies retrospectively.

Reaching 18 does not remove every licensing condition or special restriction. A property transaction, guarantee or disposal of protected assets requires review of its particular legal framework.

Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 entered into force on 1 June 2026. Check the dates, applicable special legislation and temporal rules for the particular case.