Courts across the UAE are providing better services
by introducing more online procedures
Within the Courts in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, procedures and transactions have been upgraded and more advanced technologies have been introduced for "swifter justice and better client services".
Dr Ahmad Bin Hazim Al Suwaidi, Director General of Dubai Courts, says the Labour Court was the first major step that was introduced as a special court to handle labour cases. "It has shown great improvement in the standard of services provided by Dubai courts in labour cases."
Special judges were assigned to handle labour cases only. "Special divisions and sections were devoted for labour matters and lawsuits as well," he says.
"In terms of improving the general standard of our services, we introduced the knowledge management system which is unique in design and we became the first court to adopt it in the region," says Dr Al Suwaidi.
The Dubai Courts' Excellence Award was also part of the Court Department's total quality management initiatives, which were introduced last year.
"We initiated the Award to motivate the partners of the judicial sector and develop it. We announced this new initiative to appreciate our partners' contribution in the justice system.
"The Department also launched the Distinguished Partner Award which is aimed at legal professionals including lawyers, advocates, public prosecutors and law experts, professors and students," he says.
Dr Al Suwaidi says that in the IT domain, the Department is about to reach its target in 'providing 90 per cent of the services online and electronically'. "Now about 60 per cent of our services are available online," he says.
Last year, the Dubai Government Excellence Program announced the Dubai Courts' improvement in the list of best government departments, jumping from the 17th to the 11th level. "We consider this leap as a major achievement within one year," he notes.
The Director General of Dubai Courts Department says a new Shariah and civil status matter wing with high-class facilities, was launched.
"The Al Fursan Programme was also designed for advancing forward the second line of leaders. The Programme was very successful and participants showed tremendous development in their skills and competency levels," Dr Al Suwaidi says.
Ahmad Al Khateri, Head of Ras Al Khaimah Courts Department, says: "We have witnessed a tremendous development in the Department's performance and services within the last three years in general, and since last year, in particular.
"We brought in a select, proficient and competent group of judges to speed up court procedures. We made balance in the ratio between the number of judges and court cases, and this led to speeding up of the proceedings. I personally counted only three pending lawsuits, to date, which are earlier than 2007."
He said RAK's Courts Department have also introduced 12 specialised courts to handle all kind of cases including Shariah, civil status, criminal, traffic, misdemeanour, civil, labour and commercial among others.
Al Khateri praised the performance of concerned judges who are handling labour cases. "Our main aim is to settle the labour cases quickly to assist the labourers earn their living and safeguard their rights."
He says the Department has also started carrying out notary public services online and electronically. "We are cooperating with federal and local courts in the UAE to unify court procedures and enhance our performance," he says.
"The court department and the judicial system in any country is the safe haven of needy people, a guarantor for investors and investments and helps support development," adds Al Khateri.
Humaid Bin Ali, Former Head of Abu Dhabi Federal Courts Department (currently serving as director of legal inspection section at the Justice Ministry), says: "We have adopted a new mechanism by which an employee can complete any application from A to Z without having the application circulated through several employees.
"The development of administrative capabilities has been given a priority since progress is the main pillar for ensuring clients' satisfaction at the courts.
"The Department also adopted an electronic system for those registering civil lawsuits or doing notary public transactions. This step and other steps have proved to be beneficial and efficient."
