Authorities in Dubai have expanded a justice programme that enables out-of-court settlements to cover certain minor criminal cases.
Previously, Dubai Public Prosecution's Al Solh Khair (Better to Settle) initiative was only applicable for disputes between family members.
Now the programme will also apply to cases including mutual assault, issuing insults and minor thefts where disputes can be resolved through settlements and direct compensation, rather than protracted legal proceedings, it was announced on Tuesday.
All criminal cases submitted before the Public Prosecution will now be assessed to find out whether they can be considered for the programme.
“This is more than a legal tool. Reconciliation is one of the highest expressions of social and human justice,” said Essam Al Humaidan, Attorney General of Dubai. “It doesn’t just resolve disputes; it restores trust, promotes understanding, and strengthens community bonds.”
The initiative will enable public prosecutors to propose reconciliation to both parties early in the process. If both sides agree the prosecutor leads efforts to reach a fair and mutually acceptable settlement.
“Choosing dialogue over litigation saves time, effort, and resources. It also nurtures a culture of tolerance and turns conflict into opportunity,” said Mr Al Humaidan. “When reason is chosen over escalation, human values prevail over hostility.”
Seeking solutions
Al Solh Khair was launched in 2021 to focus on family and juvenile cases. It was introduced a year after prosecutors saw that 198 out of 490 of family cases were resolved amicably.
This led to the creation of a designated family room inside the Public Prosecution building where social workers mediate between disputing family members.
Beyond easing pressure on courts and reducing legal expenses, the initiative carries significant social benefits, said Mr Al Humaidan. “It encourages people to resolve issues rationally, reduce tensions, and avoid the long-term strain of litigation."
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The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
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