Three years ago, reviewing a contract meant reading it line by line, looking up unfamiliar clauses, and either signing on hope or paying a lawyer. AI hasn't replaced the lawyer — it has compressed the first review and made it accessible to people who never had it. This is what that shift looks like in practice.
What changed in 2024
Two things. First, the underlying language models became reliable enough to read legal text accurately, including UAE-specific terminology. Second, the workflows around them — risk scoring, clause-level explanations, suggested rewrites — matured into tools individuals could use without legal training.
What AI review does well
Surfacing issues you'd miss. Plain-English explanations of clauses you don't recognise. Comparing what you're being asked to sign against typical market terms. Flagging the gap between contract language and the underlying law (where the contract says one thing but the law says another).
Where it still needs a human
Negotiation. Litigation strategy. Anything where the answer depends on the specific facts of your case rather than the four corners of the contract. AI gives you a sharper starting point — it doesn't replace judgment.