Justice is being seen to be done in Dubai after courts resumed remote hearings on Sunday and opened up proceedings to the public.
Initial sessions held by video conference in the Court of Cassation, the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance drew large viewing numbers as members of the public took a glimpse behind the chamber doors.
Cases heard online included labour, civil, commercial and personal status matters. Criminal hearings remain suspended, subject to further review next week.
Public court sessions were halted from Sunday, March 22 until Thursday, April 6 as part of nationwide efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus.
“Some (online) hearings were attended by more than 30 people, which is something remarkable and proves the success of this experience,” said Hamad Matar, head of communications at Dubai Courts.
He said that judges, court clerks, and translators among other court employees have taken extensive training to ensure they were ready to take part in online hearings.
“Everything was taken into consideration including checking networks and devices at their homes to ensure that uninterrupted e-hearings take place,” said Mr Matar.
Members of the public can access hearings from 8.30am each day on the Dubai Courts website, under electronic services.
“They can click on the 'list of cases', which will direct them to the actual list of hearings taking place on that day then by clicking on the camera icon next to each hearing, they can attend,” said the official.
A pass will be granted by the hearing’s clerk.
However, cases of sensitive nature such as family disputes are not open to the public.
“Prior to all this, family cases were held in private, therefore, we took that into consideration and only involved parties in family cases receive invitations from the clerk to attend the hearing,” Mr Matar said.
Earlier this month, Abu Dhabi court officials announced they would be conducting trial by video to ensure the wheels of justice were not halted by Covid-19.
Virtual courts are deployed to allow defendants to take part in proceedings while in custody.
The remote litigation scheme allows hearings to take place online, with judges able to hear cases live before delivering verdicts.
The hi-tech initiative is in line with the UAE government's stay-home strategy, aimed at limiting social interaction and helping to limit infections.
All parties involved in hearings – defendants, complainants and legal counsel – can access a live video link.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
