Maktoum orders formation of panel to settle Galadari disputes

An order has been issued by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, to form a special judicial committee to look into disputes between heirs of Abdul Rahim and Abdul Latif Galadari.

The order No. 2 was published in the Dubai Government Gazette distributed yesterday.

The order states that: "We, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, after having reviewed the law for forming Dubai courts No. (2) for 1992, issue the following order:

Article (1)

Setting up of a special judicial committee of the following members:
1. Ibrahim Mohammed Bu Melha - Chairman
2.Yasir Abdulla Amiri - Member
3. Dr Lowai Mohammed Balhol - Member

The committee shall be referred to hereinafter as "Committee".

Article (2)

Chairman and members shall be sworn in, before they assume work, with the following oath before His Highness the Ruler: "I swear by God to observe justice and respect laws, and carry out my task honestly and sincerely."

Article (3)

The committee shall look into all disputes that have arisen between Samia, Suad and Sabah, daughters of the late Abdul Rahim Ibrahim Galadari, as well as Fawzia Ibrahim Abdul Qadir Abbas, wife of the late Abdul Latif Ibrahim Galadari, on one side, and between Khadija Ibrahim Abdul Qadir Abbas and Mohammed Abdul Rahim Galadari, FarahnazAlam Khan, wife of the late Abdul Latif Ibrahim Galadari, and Salwa, Zenab, Mohammed, Ibrahim, and Suhail, sons of Abdul Latif Ibrahim Galadari, on the other side.

All claims raised shall be accepted by the committee without fees being levied. For the purpose of the above article, disputes to be handled by the committee shall include all lawsuits submitted by the above mentioned in this respect to Dubai courts. Dubai courts shall no more look into such lawsuit and shall refer them instead to the Committee.

Article (4)

All rulings in this respect shall be issued by the general consent or the majority in the name of His Highness the Dubai Ruler. The ruling issued shall be implemented by the Executive Magistrate at the Dubai Court of First Instance.

Article (5)

The judgment issued by the Committee shall be considered final, decisive and irrefutable.

Article (6)

Without prejudice to the provisions of this order, the Committee shall base its ruling on the following:
1. Laws applicable in Dubai emirate
2. Islamic Sharia laws.
3. Customary laws, unless they contradict public order or decency.

Article (7)

All courts are prohibited to look into any claim submitted by the parties mentioned in article (3) which originated before issuance of this order.

Article (8)

This order shall come into effect upon issuance and shall be published in the official gazette.

Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Dubai Ruler
Issued in Dubai on 16 December, 2002
12 Shawal 1423 Hijra