The justice system is complex and formidable for all who encounter it. That is true wherever you are in the world, but in the UAE the situation is further complicated by the fact that the system must deal with a wide constituency that includes a large expatriate population. Criminal defendants can find themselves in unfamiliar surroundings dealing with a process they don’t understand in a language they don’t speak or read. In the areas of commercial and consumer law, many people are reluctant to launch actions, or properly defend those brought against them, because they fear the case will drag on for years.
But this situation is beginning to change. Last month, the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department announced the establishment of a tourist court and dedicated public prosecution service to deal with offences committed by visitors to the emirate. This is a welcome change in which visitors charged with minor offences will be dealt with quickly and fairly. Better that than to hold them in custody at the nation's expense for days or weeks only to achieve the same outcome when the case is finally heard.
This week, officials in Ras Al Khaimah have given an update on the progress of the emirate's one-day court that opened at the start of the year and deals with small civil and commercial cases. The streamlined system allows plaintiffs in certain cases to approach the court directly, press charges, summon other parties and receive a verdict within hours. The chairman of RAK Courts, Chancellor Ahmed Al Khatri, said the court had exceeded expectations.
Simplifying processes and eliminating backlogs in the court system is in everybody’s interests – it saves time, money and inconvenience for everybody involved, from the plaintiffs to the judge. It also allows for greater transparency in the legal process, and is in keeping with the UAE’s broader objectives of cutting through red tape and achieving world’s best practice in all fields. We hope that both these courts prove so successful that similar initiatives are taken across the country.
