The Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has signed a new law to improve the way disputes are settled in the emirate. The law is called Law No. (9) of 2025, and it updates several parts of the older Law No. (18) of 2021.
The goal of this update is to make legal services faster, simpler, and more helpful for people and businesses. It focuses on solving problems through conciliation — a method that encourages people to settle disputes peacefully instead of going to full court trials.
What the New Law Changes
- Ten articles of the older law have been changed.
- Some types of disputes must now go through conciliation before going to court.
- These include family issues, cases referred by Dubai Courts, and any case where both parties agree to use the Centre for Amicable Settlement of Disputes (CASD).
- Certain cases like inheritance, urgent matters, or divorce confirmation will not go through conciliation.
How the Process Works
- A judge will supervise a Conciliator, who will try to help both sides reach an agreement.
- If the case is resolved, both sides will sign a Conciliation Agreement, which becomes legally binding.
- If experts are needed, they can be brought in to help with the case.
- People can only challenge the agreement if they believe there was fraud, and they must do so within five working days.
What It Means for You
This law is helpful for:
- Families: They can now resolve personal disputes in a calm and private way.
- Businesses: They can avoid long and expensive court cases by settling issues quickly.
- Courts: It reduces the number of cases going to trial, saving time and resources.
