Why do mediation clauses matter, and why should they be included in every contract? The answer lies in both their legal effectiveness and their commercial value. To achieve those benefits, however, mediation clauses must be deliberately and carefully drafted. Traditionally, English contract law treated litigation as the default dispute resolution mechanism, with arbitration as the principal contractual alternative. Until the 1990s, mediation had little formal recognition in E

Parties with Dubai-seated or UAE-governed arbitration agreements can now confidently apply to the UAE courts to preserve evidence without breaching their arbitration clause or risking dismissal of future arbitral proceedings. A 2025 Dubai Court of Cassation decision has confirmed that court applications for the preservation of evidence are procedural in nature and protective, not substantive claims. As a result, these types of application do not fall within the scope of arbit

Over the past three years the Middle East has continued its pronounced shift toward modernised, arbitration-friendly dispute-resolution frameworks. Governments and major regional institutions have adopted new institutional rules, encouraged procedural innovation and, in some jurisdictions, are pursuing legislative reform designed to bring domestic arbitration law into closer alignment with international practice. The result is a patchwork of rapid evolution, selective legisla