Arbitration law firms in Dubai (in the sense of being independent law firms offering only arbitration advice) are relatively rare. The UAE as a whole is home to a growing legal sector with a range of international, regional and local firms active across the full spectrum of fields of specialisation. There are of course law firms which specialise in litigation and alternative dispute resolution as well as law firms with large litigation and dispute resolution departments offering arbitration advice and services. However, parties contemplating arbitration in Dubai or in the region and who are looking for an arbitration law firm in Dubai should be aware that such firms (and law firms generally) are not the only resource for parties looking for representation in arbitration proceedings or seeking to appoint an arbitrator.

In particular, when seeking arbitration advice in Dubai, parties should bear in mind that a key advantage of arbitration as a method of dispute resolution is the ability of the parties in dispute to select representatives and to appoint arbitrators who are experts in – or who at least have a good understanding of – the matter that is in dispute. This is particularly key if the matter in dispute is technically complex. For example, parties involved in an arbitration dispute involving construction delay and questions of quantum will benefit from appointing arbitrators who are as a minimum familiar with the issues or at best experts in the construction field with the requisite experience. To be clear, these arbitrators can be – but need not necessarily be – lawyers.

Clients contemplating arbitration in Dubai may therefore wish to consider seeking a range of advice from experienced practitioners and specialists. Usually parties will seek to appoint:

– party representative who will prepare and present their cases and evidence to the arbitration tribunal; and

– the arbitration tribunal (usually comprising either a sole arbitrator or three arbitrators) all of whom will be independent and impartial parties and who will often have particular expertise in the field in dispute and who will act as the final decision-makers on the dispute; and

– experts who can be appointed either by the Tribunal or by the parties (or both) to give their professional expert opinion on key aspects of the matter in dispute e.g., in maritime arbitrations experts may be appointed to report on transnational aspects of marine insurance claims.

The right of parties to arbitrations in Dubai or the UAE to choose their own arbitrators (whether or not from a specialist arbitration law firm or from a law firm in Dubai) is confirmed by Article 10 of Federal Law 6 of 2018 (the ‘Arbitration Law’). Arbitrators must (in addition to the qualifications agreed upon by the parties) be a natural person who is not a minor or under any form of court order (unless discharged). An arbitrator need not be of a specific gender or nationality, unless otherwise agreed upon by the parties or provided for by law. This means that arbitrators in the UAE come from varying backgrounds and fields of work – including but not limited to lawyers from arbitration law firms in Dubai. Whilst it is true that lawyers are frequently appointed in arbitration proceedings as arbitrators, professionals with an engineering or construction industry background are also frequently appointed.

Further, the right of parties to arbitrations in Dubai or the UAE can choose their own representatives (whether or not from an arbitration law firm in Dubai) is confirmed by Article 33 of the Arbitration Law. This means that parties are free to choose their representatives without restrictions.

Bolz Arbitration is therefore able to offer independent, professional and tailored arbitration advice and support to individuals and companies involved in arbitrations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Bolz Arbitration specialises in the resolution of corporate, commercial, property, real estate and construction disputes through arbitration and Anja Bolz can act either as an arbitrator or can assist parties as their representative in arbitrations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.