Cabinet Resolution No. (56) of 2025 Regarding Private Mediation Centers and Branches of Foreign Mediation Centers represents a significant regulatory step in strengthening mediation as an alternative mechanism for dispute resolution in the United Arab Emirates. The resolution provides a clear legal framework for private mediation centers and branches of foreign mediation institutions, balancing professional flexibility with institutional oversight.

According to the resolution, a private mediation center is a licensed entity authorized to provide mediation services in civil and commercial disputes. Its primary function is to facilitate amicable settlements between disputing parties outside the traditional court system. This approach reflects the UAE’s strategic shift from purely judicial justice toward restorative and consensual justice, emphasizing dialogue, trust, and cooperation between parties.

The scope of the resolution extends across the UAE and applies to all mediation centers operating within the state’s jurisdiction, except for those licensed within financial free zones—such as the DIFC or ADGM—which have independent legal frameworks, unless those centers conduct activities outside their designated zones. Substantively, the centers’ jurisdiction is limited to civil and commercial disputes, excluding criminal, family, and administrative matters, which are governed by separate legal regimes.

Under this resolution, mediation centers are granted extensive powers and responsibilities. They manage the entire mediation process—from receiving applications and appointing qualified mediators to conducting sessions, documenting proceedings, and recording settlement agreements. Centers must also maintain electronic registers of disputes, mediators, and outcomes, ensuring transparency and digital accountability. Furthermore, they are empowered to establish internal procedures for managing mediation cases in line with recognized best practices and to formally communicate with disputing parties while submitting regular performance reports to the Ministry of Justice or the relevant local judicial authority.

At the same time, the resolution ensures robust regulatory supervision. Private mediation centers and foreign branches operate under the oversight of the Ministry of Justice or the local judicial authority, which monitors compliance with federal laws and regulations. The specialized committee established under the resolution holds the authority to approve, suspend, or revoke licenses and to handle administrative appeals, thereby guaranteeing fairness, transparency, and consistency in the implementation of regulatory measures.

Through this comprehensive structure, it is clear that the legislator intended not merely to establish mediation centers but to institutionalize mediation as a professional and regulated system. The framework integrates administrative, technical, and ethical standards that enhance the quality of mediation services and promote public confidence in alternative dispute resolution. Ultimately, Cabinet Resolution No. (56) of 2025 supports the UAE’s vision of building a modern, efficient, and accessible justice system—positioning the country as a regional hub for amicable and innovative dispute resolution.s a regional hub for amicable and innovative dispute resolution.