A (SAND) STORM IN A TEACUP - The Right To Representation In UAE Arbitration

There is a new hot topic in the UAE legal community: can legal consultants lawfully represent parties to an arbitration in the UAE? The debate stems from a new provision in a recently issued Federal Ministerial Resolution. In this article, we explain the debate, and put forward two interpretations of the law relevant to the point. We also comment on the recent clarification issued by the Dubai Legal Affairs Department

Legal foundation of the debate

Ministerial Resolution No. 972 of 2017 on the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No. 23 of 1991 on the regulation of advocates (the Advocates Law) was issued on 25 September 2017. It came into effect on the date of publication in the Official Gazette of the Federal Government on 28 September 2017.