• Home
• /
• UAE

Virtual hearing to assist judgements in Abu Dhabi

Dubai - The new service, which is among the first of its kind in the region, will include conducting reconciliation sessions in civil and commercial cases through the use of video communication technology.

The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) has introduced virtual hearing sessions for reconciliation in commercial and civil cases.
The new service, which is among the first of its kind in the region, will include conducting reconciliation sessions in civil and commercial cases through the use of video communication technology, according to judicial authorities. The Skype-assisted virtual hearing method will also be used for the public notary services.
The launch of the service is aimed at speeding up cases, improving services using modern technology and spare people from spending time travelling to courts for attending hearing sessions. The new service is among the package of smart and electronic services launched this week by the ADJD at the Gitex 2017 in Dubai.
Yousuf Al Abri, the undersecretary of the ADJD, said the expansion of the judiciary through launching smart and electronic services is under the directives of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and head of ADJD.
He noted that the department is working towards the digital transformation according to a systematic plan, where an in-depth study of each service is carried out in regards to legislative and legal controls and the best mechanisms to be followed in applying modern technologies.
"The use of new and modern technologies in conducting judicial services is vital in achieving the strategic goals of the department as it will enhance the effectiveness of the judicial processes and provision of quick and quality services," said Al Abri.
Yousuf Al Hosani, director of courts and legal support sector at the ADJD, said: "The smart service would link the reconciliation committees with the parties involved in the civil or commercial cases to the hearing using the video communication technology. The aim is to speed up the reconciliation process and settle the commercial disputes between parties quickly. 
The official said the disputing parties will longer be required to go to courts as they would be virtually connected to the reconciliation officials for the hearing sessions from wherever they might be.
Parties involved in the cases would be required to submit all the necessary documents through the judicial department's website for approval before the hearing session is scheduled. Al Hosani said the new system will save people's time as they would no longer be required to visit the courts for hearing sessions. In addition, it will reduce congestion at the branches of public notary and reduce the waiting time for dealers and customers.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com