His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, has issued Resolution No. 3 of 2026 in his capacity as Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department (ADJD) to establish Family Business Dispute Resolution Committees in the Abu Dhabi emirate. The action intends to improve the legal and judicial frameworks that support family companies’ stability and assure the long-term viability of their economic contributions.
The committee will have the authority to hear disputes arising from the memorandum of association, management, or ownership of family businesses headquartered in Abu Dhabi, whether they are between partners themselves, partners and family members, or any of them and the family business or third parties. The committee will also consider grievances submitted against decisions issued by the Family Council for Dispute Settlement under Article 19 of the Federal Decree-Law No. 37 of 2022 on Family Businesses. Grievances must be filed within 30 days of the date of issuance or communication of the decision; otherwise, the grievance will be considered void.
The Resolution gives the committee broad authority to take preventive and emergency steps to ensure the company’s continuity. These precautions are intended to avoid business disruptions or any detrimental influence on the company’s reputation or financial position during the dispute settlement process. Furthermore, the committee has the authority to seek technical assistance from ADJD’s registry of experts, external experts, or government workers. It may also employ representatives of government agencies or businesses to provide technical assistance in specific situations, depending on the nature of the dispute or the company’s primary operation.
In terms of peaceful settlement methods, the Resolution stated that disagreements would be sent to the Dispute Settlement Centre if there was no Family Council or if the parties agreed not to bring the case to one. If the Council or the Centre are unable to resolve the dispute, the committee shall assume jurisdiction and decide on the applications and grievances submitted to it on an expedited basis through a reasoned decision that has the legal force of a judgment issued by a Court of First Instance and is subject to appeal in accordance with the Civil Procedure Law.
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