Public policy, as any student of English law knows, is "an
unruly horse" which, depending on the rider, can either turn
out to be one of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse or a shining
knight. After the issue of an award, just as a tribunal or the
successful party feels that it is safe to relax and exit the
psychological bunker that often shadows arbitrations in the UAE,
the ace in the pack, high of course, is played and the immortal
words "public policy" send a shiver through the
process.
Once upon a time the arbitrators could sign at the end of the
Award and breathe a sigh of relief that their job was done. But
gradually, and with creeping vigour, the drums beat and the
Tribunal is told that additional requirements must be fulfilled,
such as initialling each page of the award in order for it to be
valid. Nobody is able to point to a real legal basis of course, but
never mind. Then, as if there is enough unpaid work for a tribunal,
the watch phrase is "sign on each
