Dubai: Some 1,559 cases were settled amicably by the Dubai Courts Department’s (DCD) Centre for Amicable Settlement of Disputes in 2015, marking an 86 per cent increase compared with 2014.
An alternative platform for litigation, the Centre for Amicable Settlement of Disputes (CASD) helps devise legal solutions in a few hours in certain cases, said DCD’s director-general Taresh Al Mansouri on Tuesday.
“Dubai aims to simplify litigation by resolving disputes amicably. The 86 per cent increase in numbers in 2015 reflects the litigants’ desire to solve their disputes in friendly and mutually satisfying ways. CASD reinforces its role every year in accelerating the litigation process by providing alternative ways to solve civil, real estate and business disputes,” said Al Mansouri.
The centre’s role is not limited to friendly and swift settlement but also contributes to maintaining the economic and social well-being of the society, he added.
“DCD has developed the CASD to save effort, time and costs for the parties involved in conflicts through compromised formula,” according to Al Mansouri.
Mohammad Ameen Mubasheri, CASD’s Head, said a significant number of disputes were resolved in less than a month, except for the ones extended by the judge’s order, which makes the centre one of the best in performance globally.
“These settled disputes were supported by full documentation through a reconciliation agreement signed by the disputing parties. CASD 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,” said Mubasheri.
CASD seeks to find an amicable solution within a month of the first session with the help of mediators. When the disputants reach a settlement, a reconciliation agreement is signed by both parties and attested by a competent judge after which it becomes a legally enforceable document.
If an amicable settlement is not feasible, the case is referred to a specialised court.
Recently, commercial and real estate disputes were transferred to the Centre for Amicable Settlement of Disputes in Business Village near the Clock Tower in Deira.
A media statement on Tuesday said that upon reaching a settlement, 50 per cent of the registration fee is refunded, to encourage parties to accept the conciliation if the case was registered before September 1, 2015.
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 a settlement at CASD.
