Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree setting up the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (Emac) to settle maritime — related disputes and provide the best services to professionals in the maritime sector.
As per decree No. 14 for 2016, the centre aims to enhance the emirate’s competitiveness on both regional and international levels and complete the work system of the maritime sector, with maritime arbitration centres being part of this system. The arbitration centre is set up in pursuant to Dubai Maritime City Authority’s Law No. 11 of 2007, which stipulates the creation of an arbitration centre that meets international standards is to be created within Dubai’s Maritime City. Emac will fill the immediate need for a specialised maritime arbitration centre in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Shaikh Mohammad also issued decree No. 16 of 2016, forming Emac’s board of trustees under the chairmanship of Anthony Colman and with Majid Obaid Bin Bashir as the deputy chairman. The board will serve for a renewable term of three years.
The centre will be responsible for settling maritime disputes in compliance with arbitration rules. It may coordinate and cooperate with other regional and international arbitration centres as well.
The centre is also tasked with promoting awareness about alternative dispute solutions, organising conferences, seminars and workshops, and issuing publications dedicated to maritime arbitration.
It will set up a special register of arbitrators, experts and qualified mediators who are fully aware of arbitration and mediation requirements and procedures.
The UAE government believes in arbitration as one of the venues for settlement of disputes and in particular for shipping disputes. The government will have no involvement in the running of the arbitration centre. It is for the parties to agree on arbitration and the arbitration centre will be fully independent. The government will assist in providing support and training to allow the centre to operate fully and independently from the government.
