As part of Abu Dhabi’s ongoing efforts to protect consumers rights and promote a supportive and transparent business ecosystem, the Abu Dhabi Business Centre (ADBC), part of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD), has launched consumer dispute resolution service to expedite settlement of disputes between consumers and commercial establishments in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, amicably and at the best possible cost for the concerned parties.
Launching the new service strengthens consumer protection framework in Abu Dhabi, and is in line with the UAE laws, especially Federal Law No. (15) of 2020 regarding consumer protection, which aims to protect all consumer rights, especially those pertaining to the quality of goods and services, and the privacy and security of data.
The service is set up to settle disputes between consumers and commercial establishment within 21 days from the date both parties appeared before consumer dispute resolution service’s team. The conciliator could extend the period for extra 21 days, if deemed necessary.
The conciliators of consumer dispute resolution service are tasked to meet with the dispute parties, bring their views closer, and settle the dispute amicably. They may seek assistance of experts registered in ADJD or those agreed upon by the litigants to provide technical expertise. Settled disputes will be ratified by a judge to have the power of an executive bond and the authority of judicial decisions, while files of unsettled disputes will be referred to ADJD.
Following completion of training programme by ADJD, members of the consumer dispute resolution team were sworn in before His Excellency Undersecretary of the ADJD, to begin their duties as conciliators.
His Excellency Counselor Yousef Saeed Al-Abri, Undersecretary of ADJD, said “The provision of consumer dispute settlement service by accredited conciliators comes to implement the decision of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Court, and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, to support entrepreneurship and provide an attractive environment for investments in Abu Dhabi, while ensuring justice and the rights preservation”.
H.E. Counselor Yousef Al-Abri stressed the importance of this step, which is in line with the directions of the Judicial Department to encourage alternative solutions to settle disputes, especially commercial and economic cases, and to qualify specialised, qualified conciliators, training them on best practices and methods that would bring the parties’ views together and to settle the dispute amicably.
His Excellency Rashed Abdulkarim Al Blooshi, Undersecretary of ADDED, said: “Over the past years, Abu Dhabi has nurtured a supportive business environment that presents investors and business owners with growth opportunities while preserving the rights of consumers in accordance with international best practices. Launching dispute settlement service reflects our ongoing efforts to keep pace with latest developments as this solution ensures a faster, more flexible way to settle disputes at best possible cost for consumers and commercial establishments.”
To avail consumer disputes settlement service, a request should be registered through the official channels of the ADJD, which include accredited typing offices and interactive registration via ADJD’s website.
