Conciliate Before You Litigate - Dubai’s Law No. 9 of 2025 Explained

Resolve Disputes through Centre for Amicable Settlement of Disputes (CASD)

Introduction

Dubai has shifted the starting point for disputes — and the change is no small procedural update. With Law No. 9 of 2025, litigation is no longer the automatic next step when conflict arises. For many types of disputes, the courts now require an attempt at formal conciliation first.

This isn’t about promoting harmony. It’s about streamlining the judicial system, reducing backlog, and giving parties a real opportunity to resolve matters outside the courtroom — under legal supervision, with binding consequences.

If you’re running a business, advising one, or preparing to initiate proceedings in Dubai, this new law reshapes how and when you can even get into court.

What the Law Says

Law No. 9 of 2025 amends Dubai’s earlier Law No. 18 of 2021 and tightens the conciliation regime administered by the Centre for Amicable Settlement of Disputes (CASD).

At its core is Article 5, which sets out when conciliation is mandatory and when it isn’t.

Conciliation is now required if:

• The dispute is referred by the President of Dubai Courts

• The matter involves personal status issues

• Both parties agree in writing to refer the matter to CASD

• A court refers the matter based on a prior agreement between the parties

These aren’t recommendations. They are legal requirements. If your case falls into one of these categories, you cannot proceed to trial until conciliation is attempted.

Exemptions apply to:

• Urgent cases or applications for interim relief

• Inheritance and guardianship matters (though Inheritance Courts can still propose settlement)

• Disputes outside Dubai’s jurisdiction

• Matters where conciliation is explicitly prohibited — such as marriage or divorce verification

Article 6 puts qualifying disputes under the supervision of a Conciliator and a competent judge. These matters are now handled within the courts’ electronic case management system, giving them formal weight from the outset.

If a settlement is reached, Article 27 makes it legally binding: the Conciliation Agreement becomes enforceable once the executory formula is applied. Only allegations of fraud or deception can challenge the outcome — and even then, parties have just five business days to act.

Steps to Comply

For those operating in or advising within Dubai’s legal environment, compliance now means more than just filing properly. It means understanding whether you’re even allowed to file without first taking a mandatory detour through CASD.

1. Assess Your Dispute

Know from the start whether your matter falls under mandatory conciliation. Filing prematurely will only delay the inevitable — or get your case rejected.

2. Initiate Through the Right Channel

If required, initiate proceedings through Dubai Courts’ electronic system and ensure it routes through CASD or the Family Guidance Committee.

3. Engage Like It’s Litigation

Don’t treat conciliation like a formality. It’s structured, supervised, and consequential. Respond formally and show up prepared — legally and commercially.

4. Use Expert Opinions When Needed

The law permits the appointment of technical experts to aid resolution. This is especially useful in disputes involving valuations, financial analysis, or complex commercial frameworks.

5. Draft Like It Will Be Enforced

Conciliation Agreements now carry the same legal weight as court judgments. Precision matters. So does language. There’s no room for ambiguity.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Assuming Conciliation is Optional

For many disputes, it’s not. Ignoring this will result in wasted time — or worse, procedural rejection.

Underestimating Legal Formality

This is not an informal negotiation. The presence of a judge and court system backing it demands full legal discipline.

Poor Settlement Terms

If your agreement lacks enforceable structure, you’re setting your client up for future disputes — or legal challenges.

Missing the Deadline to Challenge

Only fraud or deception can undo a Conciliation Agreement. But if that’s your ground, you have five business days — no extensions.

Overlooking Inheritance Flexibility

Even where conciliation isn’t mandatory, courts like the Inheritance Court can still propose settlement. Refusing to engage could damage your position later.

How Juris Maestro Can Help

At Juris Maestro, we don’t treat conciliation as a tick-box exercise. We treat it as strategic legal ground. One that demands the same precision and foresight as litigation — because the outcome is just as binding.

We help you:

• Determine whether your dispute qualifies for mandatory conciliation

• Navigate the procedural and jurisdictional requirements before CASD

• Engage technical experts where necessary — and structure their input effectively

• Draft or review Conciliation Agreements with enforceability in mind

• Act fast in fraud or deception scenarios — within the five-day window

Where settlement isn’t possible, we ensure your matter enters litigation prepared — with every factual, procedural, and evidentiary step already aligned.

Conclusion

Dubai’s Law No. 9 of 2025 is not administrative fine-tuning. It’s a shift in judicial philosophy — one that places structured, legally supervised conciliation at the gate of litigation.

Ignore it, and your case may never see a courtroom. Use it well, and it may never need one.

If your dispute resolution clause is governed by laws of Dubai — Make sure it does more than look right — make sure they work under the law. Juris Maestro can help you start strong — and stay enforceable.