Previously, adulthood in the UAE was 21 lunar years, roughly 20 years in the Gregorian calendar. Under the new civil law amendments, all citizens 18 and older can act independently in financial and legal matters.

Young adults can now manage their personal finances, sign contracts, obtain bank loans, buy and sell property, and register and run businesses without requiring a guardian’s approval. Minors aged 15 can also seek court permission to manage their own assets, encouraging early entrepreneurship.

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The government said the reform standardizes the age of majority across all UAE laws, including labor and juvenile legislation, making the legal framework clearer and more consistent.

For Pakistani residents in the UAE, including students and young professionals, this reform will simplify access to banking, jobs, and business opportunities. The UAE already allows people 18 and older to work, drive, marry, and be tried as adults in criminal courts, and the new law aligns civil rights with these responsibilities.

Officials said the reform is part of wider efforts to encourage youth participation in economic growth and entrepreneurship.