Three lessons for courts navigating AI: Insights from Qatar

This 2026 session built on earlier UNESCO trainings for Qatari judges in 2022 and a regional Arab-region training in 2024 , reflecting a sustained partnership to strengthen judicial capacity as AI rapidly enters courtrooms. The training brought together 34 participants, including 20 women and 14 men, from courts, ministries and national agencies to turn global principles into practical strategies. The mix of judges, prosecutors, cybersecurity experts and specialists in international affairs, allowed the group to examine AI from multiple angles - operational, technical and policy-related.

The training was facilitated by:

• Kamel El Hilali, AI and Rule of Law Specialist at UNESCO;

• Khalid Mohammed Saleh Al-Rumi, Vice President of the Court of Appeals, and Head of the Family Documentation Department at the Supreme Judicial Council; and

• Judge Mohamed Samir Marei, Judicial AI Governance Specialist with the Egyptian Judiciary, and an expert in judicial AI, cybersecurity and cybercrime investigation.

Human oversight and judicial independence must shape AI use

The first lesson drawn from the training is that human oversight and judicial independence must be central to any AI deployment in courts. Participants examined how algorithmic bias, discrimination and opacity can undermine fairness and due process, if left unchecked. In response, they stressed that judicial independence extends beyond individual judges to the digital infrastructure courts rely on. Systems must enable judges to assess AI-produced or manipulated evidence, resist disinformation and avoid undue dependence on vendors.

A key point of discussion was the limit of AI systems built primarily in English, which are not representative of the Arabic language and its specificities. This linguistic gap can affect accuracy, interpretation and fairness in Arabic-speaking jurisdictions. Consequently, participants underlined the need for context-aware tools, local data and multilingual standards when deploying AI in courts.

Global guidelines gain value when adapted nationally

The second lesson is that global standards become actionable only when translated into national guidance. Building on this, participants studied UNESCO's Guidelines for the Use of AI in Courts and Tribunals and used them as a reference to discuss what a national framework for AI use in Qatari courts could look like. They also applied the AI and Rule of Law Checklist developed by UNESCO and the University of Oxford to assess transparency, evidence integrity and judicial independence in concrete scenarios.

Participants explored regulatory models from different regions and identified key principles for Qatar, including clear governance roles, risk-based controls and mechanisms for oversight and redress. They also discussed privacy, data protection and cybersecurity, highlighting how technical safeguards support both data protection and courts' ability to control their own information.

Evidence, transparency and accountability are the core test

The third lesson is that AI's impact on evidence and transparency is the real test for courts. On the final day, participants focused on how AI can produce, analyse and manipulate evidence, including deepfakes, and reviewed real cases from the United States and other jurisdictions. They examined how AI could also help authenticate evidence and detect manipulation, but emphasised that this would require clear professional standards and verification protocols.

In this context, the group discussed AI hallucinations, and the responsibilities of judges and lawyers when AI-generated content is used or cited in court. They debated about what transparency means in practice: e.g. what information about AI use should be communicated to litigants and the public, what limits are justified, and how courts can communicate clearly without compromising security or fairness? Throughout these discussions, participants referred to the MOOC on AI, Justice and the Rule of Law , developed by UNESCO in partnership with the Saïd Business School, the Blavatnik School of Government and the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford, as a resource they can use and recommend to colleagues to deepen their understanding.

A foundation for continued cooperation

The training concluded with a conversation on emerging topics, including cybersecurity, digital sovereignty and the long-term implications of AI for judicial systems. Participants expressed strong appreciation for the session and its practical, rights-based approach.

This activity marks the beginning of a closer cooperation between UNESCO and the Supreme Judiciary Council of Qatar, with a view to further capacity-building, guidance development and peer exchange on AI and the rule of law.