Mediation Services

The UAE has strengthened the role of mediation through recent legislative developments, including Federal Decree Law No. 40 of 2023 on Mediation and Conciliation in Civil and Commercial Disputes. This framework supports the use of mediation in a wide range of civil and commercial matters, promoting amicable resolutions while maintaining procedural clarity and enforceability of settlement agreements where appropriate. In parallel, the DIFC Courts have established a dedicated Mediation Service Centre, offering structured processes for parties seeking to resolve disputes outside formal litigation.

At ATB Legal, we recognise that many disputes can be addressed more effectively through facilitated dialogue rather than adversarial proceedings. Our mediators assist parties in clarifying the underlying issues, exploring options, and developing solutions that are practical and sustainable. This method helps minimise the time, expense, and strain associated with prolonged disputes, while supporting the preservation of business or personal relationships.

Mediation gives parties a confidential, flexible and efficient alternative to litigation. With the guidance of a neutral mediator, those in dispute negotiate directly toward a settlement they design themselves — usually at lower cost, in less time, and with far greater privacy than court or arbitration. It is especially suited to parties who want to preserve an ongoing relationship or reach a commercially practical outcome rather than a win-or-lose judgment.

The UAE has placed mediation on a firm statutory footing through Federal Decree-Law No. 40 of 2023 on Mediation and Conciliation in Civil and Commercial Disputes, in force since December 2023. The law governs mediator conduct, the operation of mediation centres, and — critically — allows a settlement agreement to be endorsed with an enforcement formula, giving it the same executory force as a court judgment. In Dubai, the DIFC Courts launched a dedicated Mediation Service Centre in September 2025, with a registered Panel of Mediators and a route to directly enforceable Mediation Orders through the Courts’ Enforcement Writs.

For clients operating across the India–UAE corridor, India’s Mediation Act 2023 provides a parallel framework, including provisions for pre-litigation mediation and the enforcement of mediated settlement agreements as if they were court decrees. Both the UAE and India are signatories to the Singapore Convention on Mediation, which supports the cross-border enforcement of international commercial settlements. ATB Legal advises on both regimes — and on how a settlement reached in one can be made to hold up in the other.

At ATB Legal, we recognise that many disputes are resolved more effectively through facilitated dialogue than adversarial proceedings. We act in two distinct capacities: as appointed neutral mediators, and as counsel representing clients within a mediation. In both roles, our focus is the same — clarifying the real issues, surfacing workable options, and reaching durable settlements that minimise the time, cost and strain of a prolonged dispute.

Our Mediation Services

ATB Legal offers mediation services across a wide range of dispute areas, including but not limited to:

• Family and matrimonial disputes
• Real estate and construction conflicts
• Employment and workplace disputes
• Shareholder and corporate conflicts
• Commercial contract disagreements
• Cross-border and multi-jurisdictional disputes

Each mediation engagement is supported by our rigorous case preparation, commercial awareness, and results-oriented advocacy, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client.

Our track Record

ATB Legal’s mediation services have successfully resolved complex and sensitive disputes, contributing to improved client outcomes and preserving ongoing relationships. We bring maturity, experience, and tailored strategies to ensure mediation is not just an alternative, but the preferred path to dispute resolution.