Dubai: The UAE’s premier business and logistics hub Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) and Dubai Courts have established Virtual Court to manage labor cases involving enterprises working from the Free Zone and their employees.
The Smart Court, which is equipped with a live broadcast system linked to Dubai Courts with the highest standards of electronic security, can be approached by individuals involved in labor disputes.
Judges can hold hearings and adjudicate as well as access all the details using the electronic link with Jafza’s digital labor contracts system and other related information to issue their verdicts. The smart court’s services are available to more than 8,500 enterprises from more than 140 countries, employing almost 130,000 people.
According to the statement, the Virtual Court, which is housed at Jafza Building 14, ushers in a new era of simplified litigation procedures. It is similar to typical courthouses in Dubai Courts’ headquarters in that it is equipped with everything needed for the litigation procedure.
The decision follows Jafza and Dubai Courts cooperation agreement in 2019 to build a labor court that will employ live broadcasting technology to handle labor cases involving enterprises operating from the Free Zone and its business entities.
Sharing his opinion about the arrangement, Mr. Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO & Managing Director, DP World – UAE Region and Jafza “People First is our principle at DP World – UAE Region, and all our economic clusters and free zones. It is a value instilled in us by our founding fathers and a key pillar of Jafza’s organizational excellence as licensing authority and a world-class business hub. Thanks to this well-established approach in protecting rights, our system has been recognized by international companies and professionals. This has given Jafza the reputation of being a model destination for conducting business, with more than 8,500 companies, employing nearly 130,000 people.”
“This achievement would not have been possible without the unlimited support from Dubai Courts, which is a pioneer in the digital transformation of the legal sector. We are confident that this experience, which is the first of its kind in the UAE and the region, will be a unique success story that will be emulated in many free zones across the world,” noted Mr. Bin Damithan.
Chief Justice Mr. Jamal Al Jabri, Head of the Labor Court at the Dubai Courts commented that, “Establishing a Virtual Court to handle labor litigations involving companies operating from the Jebel Ali Free Zone is a major step in developing the judicial system. This supports our ongoing efforts to meet the requirements of the rapidly changing world, thus complementing the existing integrated judicial service system. It will give workers access to justice, also protecting their rights, which are guaranteed by law.”
The new system also ensures comprehensive access to services and prompt judicial justice, in line with Dubai Courts’ vision to become a pioneering and internationally distinguished court. Ensuring the efficiency of the judicial system is the top priority at Dubai Courts. This is done by harnessing modern technologies and anticipating the future according to plans and strategies that support the vision of our wise leadership to be pioneers and retain our leading global status, especially in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index.
Mr. Al Jabri further added.
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