In his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who also serves as Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has enacted Law No. (9) of 2025. This law amends certain provisions of Law No. (18) of 2021, which governs the regulation of conciliation frameworks for settling disputes arising within the emirate. The amendment replaces ten articles from the original law and is part of ongoing efforts to enhance and modernise the emirate’s legal framework while delivering exceptional levels of efficiency and service to all members of society.
Article 5 of the new law delineates the types of disputes that are eligible for mandatory conciliation efforts. These encompass disputes referred by the President of Dubai Courts, personal status disputes, disputes where both parties agree to refer them to the Centre for Amicable Settlement of Disputes (CASD), and lawsuits directed to the CASD by the courts based on mutual agreement between the litigants, Dubai Media Office reported.
Exemptions from conciliation
Article 5 further specifies disputes, orders, matters, and claims that will remain exempt from conciliation pathways. These include interim orders, urgent cases, matters of guardianship, inheritance, and other disputes, while preserving the powers of the Inheritance Court to propose settlements in inheritance cases. Conciliation will also not be considered in situations where arbitration is not feasible, such as marriage and divorce verification cases; disputes that fall outside the jurisdiction of Dubai Courts (pertaining to other entities, centres, or committees); and disputes where conciliation is prohibited under Dubai’s legal framework.
Article 6 of the law addresses the scope of dispute resolution procedures before the CASD and the Family Guidance and Reconciliation Committee. It stipulates that disputes registered in the electronic system of Dubai Courts and submitted to the CASD for amicable resolution will be examined by a Conciliator under the oversight of a Competent Judge. The article mandates compliance with the procedures, criteria, and provisions of this law and its binding resolutions when addressing disputes before the CASD. For personal status disputes, conciliation is conducted via the Family Guidance and Reconciliation Committee, following rules and procedures established by the President of the Judicial Council or his authorised representative. Existing rules and procedures outlined in Resolution No. (3) of 2021 will remain effective until a new resolution is introduced.
Read more: Sheikh Mohammed introduces new law for fair government land allocation in Dubai
Engaging technical experts
The revised text of the article empowers the CASD and the Family Guidance and Reconciliation Committee to enlist experts to provide technical opinions. The decision to engage an expert must detail the scope of work, timeframe, fees, and responsibility for payment. If conciliation succeeds, it is documented in a Conciliation Agreement signed by the disputing parties and approved by the conciliator. This agreement will carry the legal force of a writ of execution once the executory formula is applied.
Moreover, Article 8 of the law discusses dispute registration and review procedures before government and other authorised entities. Article 9 outlines the responsibilities of the Chief Justice. Additionally, Article 23 focuses on the ‘Conciliation Agreement,’ including its format, resulting outcomes, and obligations for the disputing parties. Article 24 specifies the conditions under which a Conciliator’s assignment will be considered concluded.
Conciliation agreement approval requirements
Article 27 of Law No. (9) of 2025 details the requirements for approving a Conciliation Agreement and validating the executory formula. After confirming these requirements, the Conciliator approves the agreement and endorses the executory formula. Disputing parties may only contest the Conciliator’s decision if they can demonstrate reasonable grounds indicating they were victims of fraud or deception. Such challenges must be submitted within five business days of the agreement’s approval, and the competent judge will rule on these concerns within five business days. The ruling issued will be final. The article also specifies that a copy of the agreement will be provided only to the relevant parties, and that a second copy will require a court order if the original is lost or unusable.
Article 28 of the new law sets out criteria for Dubai Courts to accept lawsuits that necessitate prior conciliation attempts, outlining procedures for referral to the CASD or the Family Guidance and Reconciliation Committee. Article 30 details the fees associated with dispute registration and the approval of the Conciliation Agreement.
The new law will be published in the Official Gazette and will take effect upon its publication.
The ‘Regulation of Conciliation in Dubai’ law aims to foster amicable dispute resolution through conciliation, promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, strengthen contractual relationships and business ventures through amicable settlements, expedite dispute resolution, and ensure complete confidentiality throughout the process.
