The Legal Affairs Department learns about the Italian Experience in Mediation for Settling Disputes

As part of the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department keenness to enrich its knowledge on best practices in mediation as an alternative method for settlement of disputes, a delegation from the Department visited the leading European Mediation Center (ADR Centre), which is considered the most prominent and largest specialized center for mediation in civil and commercial disputes in Europe, in light of the number of disputes mediated by the Center.

The delegation, which included Shaikha Nasser Alqattan, Legal Counsel - Director of Government Support and Legal Services Directorate, and Rama Salih, Legal Counsel - Assistant Head of Government Legal Support Section, was briefed on the legislative frameworks that regulate mediation in Italy. The delegation was also informed about the best practices related to the effective organizational and operational management of mediation centers, and the technical and legislative requirements to stay abreast with developments in mediation especially the latest technical systems used in the management and governance of disputes brought before mediation centers.

Training systems

The European Mediation Center showcased the technical system used in managing mediation cases to the visiting delegation. This system is made available by the Center for parties to the dispute and their assigned mediators. The Center also shed light on its training programs for qualifying accredited mediators, including advocates and legal consultants, which is in line with internationally approved standards and in accordance with the legislation regulating mediation in Italy.

During the visit, the delegation also acquainted with the electronic knowledge platform established by the Center to collect and share knowledge about all developments in the field of mediation, updated weekly with an analysis of judicial rulings related to mediation, through reports sent to advocates and legal consultants registered in the Center's databases.

Experience of Public Centers

The Department's delegation also learned about the experience of government centers specialized in mediation in Italy, and the delegation members and representatives of the European Center (ADR Center) visited the largest specialized government centers in mediation to learn how different these are from private centers specializing in the same field, and also to benefit from the positive aspects of that experience.

Strategic Project

The Director General of the Department, His Excellency Dr. Lowai Mohamed Belhoul, stated that mediation in dispute resolution is one of the most important strategic projects adopted by the Department, which comes in line with the Dubai Government's approach to supporting all alternative methods to litigation, and it is a project linked to the Department's strategic map (2023- 2025), which states in its primary goals: “Enabling amicable settlement and alternative methods to litigation in disputes that fall within the scope of its jurisdiction".

His Excellency Dr. Belhoul affirmed that this visit stems from the Department's keenness to learn about best international practices, and to establish effective partnerships, to build and develop the capabilities of its human cadres, enhance their expertise in mediation, and provide the maximum level of efficiency and flexibility in resolving disputes through mediation as an alternative method to litigation. This intertwines with and supports the tremendous efforts to implement the training program launched by the Department in 2022, which targets legal practitioners working in Government entities, legal practitioners, and the financial and business community, to consolidate this effective method of resolving disputes in light of the legislation in force.


The Legal Affairs Department learns about the Italian Experience in Mediation for Settling Disputes
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