UAE: Launch of e-mediation platform

Abu Dhabi: The UAE Ministry of Justice has launched an electronic “mediation” platform as an online alternative to traditional litigation.

The platform is dedicated to resolving civil and commercial disputes through registered mediators who specialize in completing procedures in one of two languages ​​(Arabic-English).

The platform aims to speed up dispute resolution, improve the quality of life in society, and reduce the judicial, administrative and financial burden of court proceedings.

Electronic mediation platforms offer parties the opportunity to participate effectively in order to reach a settlement agreement, which must be approved by a competent judge.

The ministry said this helped to increase community confidence in alternative litigation methods, as well as the private sector’s involvement in promoting economic development and speedy resolution of cases.

It is about building a forward-looking government centered on achieving results, within the framework of realizing the UAE’s national priorities.

The move aims to lead the country to top rankings in indicators such as the rule of law and enforcement of contracts, in a society that is economically open to the world, upholds human rights and dignity in the vision of “We Are UAE 2031” and in a society whose motto is tolerance and coexistence.

The platform also seeks to realize its vision of a flexible justice system that underpins justice for a safe society and a competitive economy that responds to economic and social changes and needs.

In 2022, the federal courts will hear 10,412 civil and commercial disputes, and the mediation rate of the alternative litigation system will reach 61.3%.

Clients served by the platform include litigants represented by investors, traders, partners, institutions, legal experts and experts.

The platform contains procedures for registration, renewal and removal of mediators, procedures for non-judicial and judicial mediation, tasks, requests and meetings of mediators, payment of mediation fees and mediator fees, and preparation of final mediation reports.

The platform also includes non-judicial mediation procedures, which include: submission of an application through the Ministry’s website, review of the application by a supervising judge, determination of the initial fee for mediation, payment of the fee by the client, transfer of the application to the mediator for a determination of tasks, a meeting by the mediator, A report is then prepared and submitted to the Center, which reviews the report and approves the agreement before a competent judge, and determines the mediator’s final fee.

The Ministry of Justice is working to facilitate the process of beneficiaries’ access to mediation services and related procedures, as the Ministry-affiliated mediation platform has been developed on its website www.moj.gov.ae.

This way, beneficiaries can start registering for mediation requests through the unified electronic portal or by going to the Ministry’s homepage using digital identities.

After entering on the main page, the beneficiary selects the service of registering and negotiating the lawsuit, and identifies the emirate in which the dispute is to be held.

The beneficiary then selects the main court location, then selects the sub-location of the court – options for civil court mediation and mediation centers – and determines the main case type, for example choosing non-judicial mediation.

After all required data has been completed and the other party agrees to mediate, Alternative Litigation Systems Division (ALSD) staff will complete additional procedures and communicate with the parties involved.

The use of electronic mediation platforms provides an opportunity for beneficiaries to rely on qualified mediators for fast and effective legal dispute resolution.

The platform aims to attract registered mediators who are good at civil and commercial mediation, to resolve disputes peacefully through mediation, and to contribute to increasing the proportion of disputes peacefully resolved through alternative litigation methods.

The Federal Court will hear 10,412 civil and commercial disputes in 2022, and the mediation ratio of the alternative litigation system will reach 61.3%