Dubai Courts' Center for Amicable Settlement of Disputes settled more than 1,500 cases last year, an increase of 86 per cent over the previous year.

 

Tarish Eid Al Mansouri, director-general of Dubai Courts, said Dubai aims to simplify litigation by resolving disputes amicably, and added that the increase in numbers this year reflects litigants’ desire to solve their disputes in friendly and mutually satisfying ways.

 

The centre reinforced its role every year in accelerating the litigation process by providing alternative ways to solve civil, real estate and business disputes, he said.

 

It's role was not limited to friendly and quick settlements but also contribute to maintaining the economic and social well-being of the society.

 

“Dubai Courts is committed to accelerate its procedures in various sectors,” said Al Mansouri.

 

“Dubai Courts has developed the center to save effort, time and costs for the parties involved in conflicts through compromised formula,” he said.

 

The centre seeks to find an amicable solution within a month of the first session with the help of mediators. This period may be extended by the judge’s order. If the disputants reach a settlement, there is a reconciliation agreement signed by both parties and attested by a competent judge, said the statemnet.

 

This agreement will then become a legally enforceable document. If an amicable settlement is not feasible, the case will be referred to a specialised court. Recently, commercial and real estate disputes were transferred to the centre in Business Village near the Clock Tower in Deira.

 

Mohamed Amin Mubashri Al Marzouki, head of the Center for Amicable Settlement of Disputes - Dubai Courts, said: “A significant number of disputes were resolved in less than a month, except the ones extended by the judge’s order, which makes the Center one of the best in performance globally. These settled disputes were supported by a full documentation through a reconciliation agreement signed by the disputing parties.

 

“The centre constantly qualifies a number of mediators with expertise in legal proceedings to communicate with the parties in the conflict and negotiate based on social, Islamic values, and economic benefits. The mediators then present the number of solutions available in the quest to reach a mutually satisfying solution.”

 

Upon reaching a settlement, about 50 per cent of the registration fee is refunded, to encourage parties to accept the conciliation if the case was registered before September 1 last year, said the statement.

 

As for the ones after, half the fees are required for payment when registering, and the other half should be paid in case of referral to the court, to encourage disputing parties to reach to a settlement at the centre itself, it added. - TradeArabia News Service