Doctor of Philosophy in Law
Study plan for the Doctor of Philosophy in Law programme
Programme Specifications
- Objectives and Outcomes of the Doctor of Philosophy in Law Programme
| Objectives | Outcomes | The Five Fields of Learning Outcomes in the National Qualifications System | Level 9 Qualifications Framework Competencies |
| 1- Devise practical solutions to emerging legal issues. | 1- Derives legal solutions to legal questions and problems relating to their field of specialisation. | 2- Skills 3- Autonomy and Responsibility | - Advanced skills in finding innovative solutions to research problems - Acting with responsibility, creativity, autonomy and scientific integrity |
| 2- Study different legal systems. | 2- Compares different legal systems. | 1- Knowledge 2- Skills | - New knowledge created through research and development in an in-depth field of knowledge - Advanced skills in finding innovative solutions to research problems |
| 3- The ability to make appropriate decisions to solve legal problems relating to their field of specialisation. | 3- Analyses relevant legal texts, judicial rulings and fiqhi opinions. | 3- Autonomy and Responsibility 4- Role in Context | - Acting with responsibility, creativity, autonomy and scientific integrity - Ability to establish and manage complex scholarly processes |
| 4- Effective communication with work teams and fostering a spirit of leadership. | 4- Leads a work team to provide solutions to legal issues relating to their field of specialisation. | 4- Role in Context 5- Self-Development | - Ability to establish and manage complex scholarly processes - Ability to analyse and critique at an advanced level in a specialised field |
| 5- The student's mastery of specialised scientific research skills in legal studies. | 5- Prepares scientific research in their field of study in accordance with the principles of scientific research. 6- Writes a scholarly thesis on one of the emerging legal topics in their field of specialisation. | 3- Autonomy and Responsibility 4- Role in Context 5- Self-Development | - Acting with responsibility, creativity, autonomy and scientific integrity - Ability to establish and manage complex scholarly processes - Ability to analyse and critique at an advanced level in a specialised field |
- Graduation Requirements:
To qualify for the Doctor of Philosophy in Law, students must fulfil the following requirements:
1- Pass all the credit hours of the programme, totalling (54) credit hours.
2- Obtain a cumulative grade point average of at least (3) out of (4) points upon completion of their studies.
3- Complete the minimum period of residence in the programme, estimated at (3) years, equivalent to (6) regular semesters, and not exceed the maximum period of residence in the programme, estimated at (6) years, equivalent to (12) regular semesters.
- Components of the Doctor of Philosophy in Law Programme:
| Doctor of Philosophy in Law | Compulsory | Elective | Total |
| Courses | 12 | 12 | 24 |
| Thesis (Dissertation) | 30 | - | 30 |
| Total Credit Hours | 42 | 12 | 54 |
- List of Courses:
A – Compulsory Programme Course Requirements
| Course No. | Course Name | Prerequisite | Credit Hours | Offering Time | |
| Level | Semester | ||||
| 6220206 | Legal Research Methodology | - | 3 | First | First |
| 6320514 | Comparative Law and Contemporary Legal Systems | - | 3 | First | First |
| 6230207 | Legal Studies in English | - | 3 | First | Second |
| 6310520 | Philosophy of Law | - | 3 | First | Second |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 |
B – Elective Programme Course Requirements (Private Law Basket) (Students choose 12 credit hours)
| Course No. | Course Name | Prerequisite | Credit Hours | Offering Time | |
| Level | Semester | ||||
| 6110101 | Civil Transactions Law | - | 3 | First | First |
| 6110202 | Commercial Transactions Law | - | 3 | First | First |
| 6110308 | Private International Law | - | 3 | First | First |
| 6210309 | Civil Procedure Law | - | 3 | First | Second |
| 6220410 | Law of Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions | - | 3 | First | Second |
| 6220311 | Labour Law and Social Legislation | - | 3 | First | Second |
| 6320615 | Arbitration Law (E) | - | 3 | Second | First |
| 6320512 | Companies and Bankruptcy Law | - | 3 | Second | First |
| 6310513 | Banking Operations (E) | - | 3 | Second | First |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 |
C – Elective Programme Course Requirements (Public Law Basket) (Students choose 12 credit hours)
| Course No. | Course Name | Prerequisite | Credit Hours | Offering Time | |
| Level | Semester | ||||
| 6110903 | Administrative Law | - | 3 | First | First |
| 6110315 | Financial and Economic Legislation | - | 3 | First | First |
| 6210316 | Constitutional Law and Political Systems | - | 3 | First | First |
| 6210104 | Penal Law | - | 3 | First | Second |
| 6220105 | Public International Law (E) | - | 3 | First | Second |
| 6220417 | International Humanitarian Law (E) | - | 3 | First | Second |
| 6220318 | Tax Legislation | - | 3 | Second | First |
| 6320519 | Emerging Crimes | - | 3 | Second | First |
| 6320521 | Criminal Procedure Law | - | 3 | Second | First |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours for Coursework | 24 |
7- Thesis (Dissertation):
A – Compulsory Programme Course Requirements
| Course No. | Course Name | Prerequisite | Credit Hours | Offering Time | |
| Level | Semester | ||||
| 6410121 | Registration of the Thesis (Dissertation) | Completion of a minimum of 21 credit hours of coursework with a cumulative GPA of at least (3) out of (4), plus passing the doctoral-level knowledge proficiency examination in the Private Law or Public Law track with a grade of at least (3) out of (4) | 0 | Second | First |
| Thesis (Dissertation) Defence | Completion of 24 credit hours allocated to coursework with a cumulative GPA of at least (3) out of (4), plus publication of two peer-reviewed articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, one of which is in a journal classified under Category (A), plus completion of the minimum period of residence for the thesis, estimated at (4) semesters, and not exceeding the maximum period of residence in the programme, estimated at (12) regular semesters. | 30 | Third | Second | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 |
| Total Credit Hours for the Programme | 54 |
8- Admission Requirements:
Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Law programme requires the following:
1- Holding a master's degree in law in all its branches with a grade of at least Very Good (3 out of 4 points) or equivalent, provided the applicant holds a bachelor's degree in law with a Good grade from a university recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates.
2- Holding a bachelor's degree in law in all its branches with a grade of at least Good, equivalent to (2) out of (4) points. Holders of bachelor's degrees in other specialisations may be admitted with the same grade, provided that their study of the master's degree in law is based on a supplementary study of legal courses from the bachelor's stage totalling at least (54) credit hours in the specialisation, after they sit the knowledge proficiency examination in law at bachelor's level and obtain a grade of at least Good, equivalent to (70%).
3- Passing the TOEFL examination with a minimum score of (450), or the IELTS with a minimum score of (5), provided the certificate is valid at the time of application.
4- Native English speakers who studied their bachelor's or master's degree in English in a country where English is the official language are exempt from the advanced English language examination requirement.
5- Students who studied the master's programme in law, the bachelor's programme in law, or both, in English, and who provide proof of this, are also exempt from the advanced English language examination.
- Submission of two letters of recommendation from professors who have previously taught them at master's level.
7- A copy of the curriculum vitae of applicants registering for the programme.
8- A letter of no objection from the authorities responsible for national service, for male Emirati students.
9- A copy of the Person of Determination card, if the applicant is a Person of Determination.
10- Attach a letter of no objection to joining the programme from the employer, if the applicant is employed.
- Course Descriptions:
A- Compulsory Courses
| Course name | Legal Research Methodology |
| Course number | 6220206 |
| This course covers the rules and principles for preparing scholarly legal research, the methods, functions and objectives of legal research, legal research techniques, the practical writing of legal research and the strategy required to achieve it, the principles to be observed in writing it in terms of form and substance, drawing conclusions and presenting recommendations. The course naturally includes training the student in how to use sources and references, and in consulting the most important legal websites on the internet to extract information from them, in addition to following up practical application. |
| Course name | Comparative Law and Contemporary Legal Systems |
| Course number | 6320514 |
| This course addresses comparative law and its relationship with contemporary legal systems, and contains an in-depth study of the following topics: First: Concepts: - The concept of comparative law: its definition, the determination of its forms, and the identification of its nature and importance. - The methods and approaches adopted in the study of comparative law, in particular the foundations of these methods and approaches, the various developments they have undergone, and all stages of the adopted comparative research. - The concept of the contemporary legal system: its definition and the classification of legal systems. - Linking comparative law to the objectives of contemporary legal systems. Second: Experiences: there are four: - First experience: legal systems based on judicial precedent, in particular: o The English legal system o The American legal system - Second experience: legal systems based on legislative texts, in particular: o The French legal system o The German legal system - Third experience: the Islamic legal system: o its characteristics o the problem of its codification - Fourth experience: Arab legal systems: o their frame of reference o their content o their risks |
| Course name | Legal Studies in English |
| Course number | 6230207 |
| This course addresses the study of various legal topics from the specialisations of public law and private law, in English. It covers precise specialised subjects selected from the branches of public law and private law, with research hours in which students are required to prepare in-depth methodical research based on readings of the most important legal references in English. |
| Course name | Philosophy of Law |
| Course number | 6310520 |
| This course contains the following topics: General Curriculum: This course covers topics relating to the philosophy of law, beginning with the meaning of philosophy and the meaning of the philosophy of law, the relationship between the philosophy of law and legal history, the stages in the development of the concept of law, its objectives, functions and relationship with other sciences, the interpretation of law, the relationship between Islamic philosophy and the philosophy of law, the philosophy of law and fiqhi rules, the sources of legal rules and their interpretation, legislative philosophy in the laws of the United Arab Emirates, natural law, the rules of justice and equity, and the notion of public order and public morals. Specific Curriculum: After the course lecturer highlights the topics of the general curriculum, they select one of the topics of the general curriculum and begin to elaborate on it, such as the influence of Islamic Sharia and natural law on the laws of the United Arab Emirates, and the codification of the most important fiqhi rules to assist in the interpretation of legal texts. |
B – Elective Courses (Private Law Basket):
| Course name | Civil Transactions Law |
| Course number | 6110101 |
| General Curriculum: This course covers some important topics relating to the philosophy of personal rights, real rights and intellectual rights, the role of will within personal rights and the legal organisation of this role through voluntary sources of obligation, the elements of involuntary sources of obligation, harmful acts and unjust enrichment, the philosophy of objective civil liability, the role of will in the termination of obligations, the means available to creditors to protect their rights, and the monitoring of the debtor's estate. Real rights: the philosophy of regulating ownership in the Civil Transactions Law, and the philosophy of the two types of security interest: the insurance-type and the possessory pledge. Specific Curriculum: The specific curriculum of this course includes an in-depth study of one or more topics of civil transactions law, the choice of topic being subject to the course lecturer, such as models of emerging contracts or professional liability. |
| Course name | Commercial Transactions Law |
| Course number | 6110202 |
| This course covers commercial and economic legislation, as well as legislation relating to investment, and the impact of these laws on development and investment in the United Arab Emirates in particular. It is delivered through interactive discussion circles, presentation and discussion of students' ideas, with the aim of enriching critical and analytical thinking in the field of commercial law. General Curriculum: Study of commercial and economic legislation and of legislation relating to investment, and their impact on development and investment in the United Arab Emirates. Specific Curriculum: Study with in-depth focus on one or more of the following issues: 1- The legal organisation of emerging digital currencies in UAE and comparative legislation 1- Legal protection of foreign investments in the UAE 2- Licensing the use of trademarks 3- The legal organisation of trade names This course is delivered through study of theoretical and practical aspects, preparation of research papers and work reports for discussion and comment to enrich analytical thinking in law, and interactive discussion circles on the topics raised, to reach results and recommendations to be presented to the relevant authorities and competent bodies. |
| Course name | Private International Law |
| Course number | 6110308 |
| This course contains an in-depth study of private international law, addressing one of the following topics: the law applicable to emerging contracts such as smart contracts, and the role of conflict of laws in the field of artificial intelligence and its ramifications; substantive rules; the theory of conflict of laws in Islamic fiqh; the law applicable and jurisdiction over relations conducted via the internet; the law applicable to international trade contracts and international investments, and the role of substantive rules; the law applicable to sports disputes; the law applicable to personal status disputes; and finally nationality and the status of foreigners and their interaction with the problem of conflict of laws and jurisdiction. |
| Course name | Civil Procedure Law |
| Course number | 6210309 |
| This course covers a number of topics, with as much focus as possible on the new aspects of civil procedure law, as follows: First: General Curriculum: This includes the definition of civil procedure law, its subject matter, its scope of application and its relationship with other procedural laws; the rules relating to the foundations of litigation and fair trials; the rules of jurisdiction and judicial competence; the theory of the dispute (khusumah), its incidents and the legal objections relating to it; the rules on judgments and orders, how they are issued and the means of challenging them; and the rules on compulsory enforcement, its procedures and disputes. Second: Specific Curriculum: This includes the study of one or more topics of the general curriculum in greater detail, depth and comprehensiveness across all its aspects, while keeping pace with all legislative, jurisprudential and judicial developments in the various procedural aspects, so as to benefit procedural legal thought and contribute to its development and enrichment, and to positively influence the development of the legal and judicial community at all levels and frameworks. |
| Course name | Law of Evidence in Civil and Commercial Transactions |
| Course number | 6220410 |
| This course contains the following topics: General Curriculum: The course covers the general principles of evidence in civil and commercial claims, and direct and indirect means of proof. It studies written evidence (official and ordinary documents), witness testimony, inspection and expert evidence. As for indirect means of proof, the student learns about legal and judicial presumptions, judicial and extra-judicial admissions, and decisive and supplementary oaths. At the end of the means of proof, electronic means of proof are studied. Specific Curriculum: This covers a detailed study of the rules relating to the subject of proof or the burden of proof, or the study of the provisions relating to one of the means of proof provided for by law, and the study of electronic means of proof, the electronic signature, and their probative authority. |
| Course name | Labour Law and Social Legislation |
| Course number | 6220311 |
| This course covers: General Curriculum: An explanation of the provisions of UAE labour law. The legislator regulated employment relations under Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021 concerning the regulation of employment relations, Federal Decree-Law No. (14) of 2022 amending certain provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021, and Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2023 amending certain provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. (33) of 2021, together with its Executive Regulation issued by the Cabinet under Resolution No. (1) of 2022 and the decisions issued in implementation thereof. The course examines its provisions in accordance with the latest amendments, and the related decisions of the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, such as Ministerial Resolution No. 42 of 2022 on wage protection, Ministerial Resolution No. (48) of 2022 on regulating labour inspection procedures, Ministerial Resolution No. (27) of 2022 on the labour inspection procedures manual, and Cabinet Resolution No. (46) of 2022 establishing the Collective Labour Disputes Committee. Also covered is Ministerial Resolution No. (787) of 2017 on regulating remote work, and reference will be made to Federal Decree-Law No. (9) of 2022 concerning auxiliary service workers. Specific Curriculum: Includes an in-depth study of one or more topics of labour law, such as remote work contracts, the legal protection of auxiliary service workers, and the settlement of collective labour disputes. |
| Course name | Companies and Bankruptcy Law |
| Course number | 6320512 |
| This course covers the general framework of recent topics in the fields of companies and bankruptcy at national and regional levels, such as a theoretical study of the theory of the company contract and its impact on promoting development and investment. It focuses generally on companies, their development, provisions, types and liquidation, and on mechanisms for protecting failing commercial enterprises from bankruptcy. Specific Curriculum: Study with in-depth focus on one or more of the following issues: 1- The legal organisation of the oversight of the actions of the board of directors of public joint stock companies 1- The legal system of company conversion 2- Mergers of companies 3- Mechanisms for protecting commercial enterprises from bankruptcy (restructuring) 4- Preventive composition (settlement) against bankruptcy This course is delivered through study of theoretical and practical aspects, preparation of research papers and work reports for discussion and comment to enrich analytical thinking in law, and interactive discussion circles on the topics raised in the fields of companies and bankruptcy, to reach results and recommendations to be presented to the relevant authorities. |
| Course name | Banking Operations (E) |
| Course number | 6310513 |
| This course covers banking operations and their role in bank credit operations and the impact of these on economic development in the UAE in particular, together with their practical applications. It also addresses legislation relating to banks and the supervision of banking business. Specific Curriculum: Study with in-depth focus on one or more of the following issues: 1- Documentary credit (its legal organisation, and the international rules and customs governing it) 2- Bank guarantee letters 3- Current account 4- Bank guarantees and bank transfers. This course is delivered through study of theoretical and practical aspects, preparation of research papers and work reports for discussion and comment to enrich analytical thinking in law, and interactive discussion circles on the topics raised, to reach results and recommendations to be presented to the relevant authorities and competent bodies. |
| Course name | Arbitration Law (E) |
| Course number | 6320615 |
| This course contains the following topics: General Curriculum: A study of the most important aspects of arbitration, such as the arbitration agreement and its types, the basic principles governing its procedures, the law applicable to the procedures or to the subject matter of arbitration, and the nullity and enforcement of an arbitral award. Specific Curriculum: A study of one of the above topics in depth, or of any of the following topics: the law applicable to arbitration disputes; arbitration in Islamic finance; the particularities of the law applicable before Islamic arbitration centres; arbitration in intellectual property disputes; arbitration in international trade and electronic commerce contracts and commercial maritime disputes; arbitration in international sports disputes; as well as the problem of annulment of an arbitral award and the problems of enforcing foreign arbitral awards, such as the enforcement of a null foreign arbitral award. |
C – Elective Courses (Public Law Basket):
| Course name | Administrative Law |
| Course number | 6110903 |
| This course contains topics relating to economic administrative law, as follows: - The nature of economic administrative law: its definition, origin, characteristics and sources. - The economic administrative organisation at the level of central and non-central institutions. - Through examining the legal framework for State intervention in the economic field, the following are addressed: o the principles governing State intervention in the economic field, o the mechanisms of State intervention in the economic field, o the place of competition (law and institutions) in economic activity, o the role of the State in the economic field. - The course also addresses the economic public sector: o its definition, characteristics, origin and development, o its relationship with the evolution of State functions, o the concept of the economic public institution, o the laws regulating the public sector, o the concept of economic public order, o the concept of independent administrative authorities. |
| Course name | Penal Law |
| Course number | 6210104 |
| This course is devoted to an in-depth study of certain issues of penal law, both general and special. It contains issues from general penal law in its two parts, crime and punishment, and issues from special penal law in its two parts, offences against property and offences against persons. It includes an in-depth study of one of the topics of criminal law, such as the general theory of criminal intent, the philosophy of punishment in Islamic Sharia, corporal punishments and their effect in combating crime, and contemporary criminal policy: a comparative study. |
| Course name | Public International Law (E) |
| Course number | 6220105 |
| This course contains the following topics: General Curriculum: Includes the study of some important topics in public international law, such as maritime zones in the law of the sea, international responsibility, and diplomatic and consular relations. Specific Curriculum: Includes an in-depth study of one or more topics of public international law, such as State immunity, State succession, unilateral acts of States, sustainable development in international law, and the international law of outer space. |
| Course name | Financial and Economic Legislation |
| Course number | 6110315 |
| This course covers an in-depth study of some topics of contemporary economic and financial systems and legislation, such as the relationship between tax policy and the economic systems applied, the relationship between tax policy, economic policies and investment, as well as competition and monopoly legislation and anti-dumping. Focus is placed on new aspects in the field of economic and financial legislation, with application to the United Arab Emirates. |
| Course name | Constitutional Law and Political Systems |
| Course number | 6210316 |
| This course addresses the topic of the sources of constitutional law. It contains an in-depth study of the following topics: - The concept of the sources of law, and the distinction between the material and formal sources of law. - The material sources of constitutional law, in particular: history, politics, religion, sociology, economics and constitutional allusions. - The formal sources of constitutional law, whether official and written sources (the Constitution, ratified international treaties, legislative texts, regulations and ordinances), or unwritten sources (constitutional custom, general principles of law, judicial jurisprudence and constitutional doctrine). - The importance of guaranteeing the supremacy of the Constitution, in particular: o the constitutional institution entrusted with guaranteeing and protecting the supremacy of the Constitution, o the mechanisms adopted to guarantee the supremacy of the Constitution, o the effects arising from decisions issued to guarantee the supremacy of the Constitution and respect for it. |
| Course name | International Humanitarian Law (E) |
| Course number | 6220417 |
| This course contains the following topics: General Curriculum: Definition of international humanitarian law, the historical development of the theory of war, the development of the concept of international and non-international armed conflict, and the conventions governing international humanitarian law. Specific Curriculum: Includes an in-depth study of one or more topics of international humanitarian law, such as private military companies in armed conflict; the use of advanced military technologies in armed conflict (drones); the principles of international humanitarian law; the participation of non-State entities in armed conflict; and the protection of civilian populations during armed conflict. |
| Course name | Tax Legislation |
| Course number | 6220318 |
| This course covers the most important regulatory aspects of financial legislation in the United Arab Emirates, such as clarifying the categories of sovereign public revenues and non-sovereign public revenues, and analysing the financial sovereignty of the State as exercised in the tax field, with a focus on the decisive role of taxes in public finance, economic development and social justice. |
| Course name | Emerging Crimes |
| Course number | 6320519 |
| This course is devoted to the study of some issues of emerging crimes in special penal legislation. It contains issues from general penal law in its two parts, crime and punishment. It also contains a study of models of some emerging crimes, including cybercrimes through their definition, elements, forms and types, the difference between them and traditional crimes in accordance with Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2021 on combating rumours and cybercrimes, as well as crimes connected with emerging subjects such as crimes relating to artificial intelligence, electronic consumer protection, or money laundering through social media. |
| Course name | Criminal Procedure Law |
| Course number | 6320521 |
| This course contains the following topics: General Curriculum: A study of the general principles of criminal procedure during the stages of evidence-gathering, preliminary investigation and trial, and of the methods of appeal against judgments, with a focus on the principles relevant to the subject taught in the specific curriculum. Specific Curriculum: Covers the study of the provisions governing the progress of criminal proceedings, the rules of evidence, especially in models of emerging crimes, and the methods of appeal against judgments. The study should be in-depth, comparative, and focused on modern topics in the specialisation, such as alternatives to the criminal case (the penal order and reconciliation in criminal matters, among others), as well as the authority of electronic evidence in criminal proof, in terms of its treatment of criminal evidence rules in comparative legal systems. The course lecturer selects one of these topics. |