Record adjudication rate at Dubai Court

Dubai: The adjudication process in cases at the Dubai Courts Department (DCD) was highly commended on Sunday, having reached a record average of 96 per cent in 2012.

The rate of adjudication in civil cases was 91 per cent and 99 per cent in criminal cases, hence an average of 96 per cent in what DCD’s director general Dr Ahmad Bin Hazeem Al Suwaidi categorised as a ‘record’ average in terms of the adjudication process’ swiftness.

“The rate of achievement with regard to case adjudication was accompanied by a distinction in achieving justice within the society through precision and speed in settlement, adjudication of claims and execution of judgements. According to key performance indicators (KPI) DCD witnessed a 13 per cent increase in criminal cases and a five per cent decrease in civil cases between the years 2012 and 2011,” he told a media gathering during the launch of DCD’s 2012 annual report.

DCD’s annual report was launched along with the annual report of the Dubai International Financial Centre’s (DIFC) Courts in a joint venture held in the presence of Mark Beer, Registrar of the DIFC Courts.

DCD’s director general said the number of civil cases recorded in 2012 was 52,829 compared with 55,311 cases in 2011.

Meanwhile, the number of criminal cases recorded last year was 37,816 compared with 33,432 cases in 2011.

The report revealed that the achievements of the DCD have contributed to enhancing the competitiveness of the UAE.

“The report’s findings and statistics evidently prove that there is more stability and development in the economic and trade sectors… and other sectors as well. Meanwhile DCD’s Centre for Amicable Settlements of Disputes [civil cases] have acquired enough expertise that have helped in resolving massive caseloads… and that was one of the main reasons behind that decline in civil cases,” said Dr Al Suwaidi.

During the gathering, DCD’s director general said the Family Court will have a new independent premises in Al Garhoud scheduled to be fully operational at the beginning of next year.

Dr Al Suwaidi said the report reflects the commitment of DCD’s departments and sections to the pursuit of excellence, and their ongoing quest to improve its organisational performance.

Meanwhile Beer said: “DIFC’s Courts continues its growth steadily to be the perfect choice for those looking for an English-speaking international tribunal to resolve conflicts in the region. Our judgements are 100 per cent enforceable in the UAE and outside. Nearly 95 per cent of cases at DIFC are resolved before reaching a court and this allows businesses to keep moving forward.”

“Throughout the 2012 annual report, DCD was keen to assess the development that has been achieved with regard to the mechanism of continuous development followed by the judicial system in Dubai,” concluded Dr Al Suwaidi.