New mediation centre to cut court cases

Dubai courts are seeking to reduce the amount of litigation they handle with the launch this month of a dispute resolution and mediation centre, The National reports.

The Director General of Dubai Courts, Dr Ahmed bin Hazim Al Suwaidi, said the centre which is scheduled to begin operating this month is expected to reduce litigations by 20 to 30 per cent this year.

"This new service will provide a faster option to dispute parties, in comparison with litigation, which can take months or years," he was quoted in the paper as saying. "The dispute resolution would be reached within a 30-day period."

The parties will discuss their dispute with the mediator until a settlement is reached.

A settlement will be notarised and legally binding, Dr bin Hazim said, although the penalties for breaking a settlement have not yet been disclosed.

Specific cases registered to the civil, commercial and real estate courts would automatically be referred to the centre, Dr bin Hazim said.

The centre will be led by Mohammed Amin Mubashiri, a lawyer and longtime employee of Dubai Courts, and will have four permanent mediators, who will operate under the supervision of the chief justices of the related courts.

Last Sunday, 20 police officers began a course in commercial mediation and arbitration conducted by the GCC arbitration centre.

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