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Dubai introduces changes to conciliation law: Dubai Ruler and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued amendments to Dubai’s conciliation law to clarify the scope of reconciliation matters and set out new rules for the process of conciliation, according to the Dubai Media Office. The amendments, part of efforts to modernize and improve efficiency in Dubai’s judicial system, are set to go into effect after publication in the official gazette.
The amendments clarifies which cases require mandatory conciliation, including personal status disputes and those referred by the Dubai Courts president and the Center for Amicable Settlement of Disputes (CASD). The previous version of the law did not explicitly mention personal status disputes.
The CASD does not cover urgent cases and those relating to guardianship, inheritance, marriage, and ones outside of Dubai Courts’ jurisdiction.
Who does what? A conciliator under a judge’s supervision will review disputes registered in Dubai Courts’ e-system and submit it to CASD. For personal status disputes, the Family Guidance and Reconciliation Committee will provide conciliation efforts — with the two bodies now able to get specialized opinions from experts.
Not happy with the decision? You have five business days to challenge it, if you have reasonable grounds to prove you were subject to fraud or deception during the process, and the judge should issue a ruling within five business days.
Why the amendments? The changes aim to speed up dispute resolution, improve confidentiality, and reinforce enforceability in Dubai’s conciliation process, Baker McKenzie arbitration and dispute resolution partner Sally Kotb told EnterpriseAM. Individuals and families will benefit from quicker, less costly, and more private resolution in personal matters, while businesses, especially SMEs, can gain from a clearer law environment, according to Kotb.
More clarity, more investment: The amendments will align the UAE with international arbitration standards, which in turn will bolster investments, Kotb added.
