Strengthening amicable dispute resolution
These bylaws focus on expediting procedures, expanding digital services, and developing the systems for marriage, visitation, and Sharia documentation, while ensuring higher levels of child protection and promoting amicable settlement of family disputes—reflecting a more flexible and efficient judicial approach.
The regulations include Decision No. 66 of 2025 on the Rules for the Work of Arbitrators, which specifies the conditions for their appointment and the mechanisms governing their role in resolving marital disputes and submitting reports to the court.
Also issued is Decision No. 67 of 2025 on the Family Guidance Regulation, granting family guidance counselors broader authority in resolving disputes amicably and giving their agreements the force of an executive instrument.
The package further includes Decision No. 68 of 2025 on Child Visitation Regulations, providing a clear legal framework for enforcing visitation rulings in a manner that safeguards the child’s psychological and social well-being.
Additionally, Decision No. 69 of 2025 on Attestations and Certifications enhances reliance on electronic documentation, ensuring the highest levels of reliability and ease of access to data. This is complemented by Decision No. 70 of 2025 regulating the work of Sharia marriage registrars, which defines licensing conditions and governs the electronic execution of marriage contracts with digital signatures, including the option to complete contracts remotely.
A modernized family justice framework
Abdullah Rashid Al Hammadi is an accomplished Emirati journalist with over 45 years of experience in both Arabic and English media. He currently serves as the Abu Dhabi Bureau Chief fo Gulf News.
Al Hammadi began his career in 1980 with Al Ittihad newspaper, where he rose through the ranks to hold key editorial positions, including Head of International News, Director of the Research Center, and Acting Managing Editor.
A founding member of the UAE Journalists Association and a former board member, he is also affiliated with the General Federation of Arab Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists. Al Hammadi studied Information Systems Technology at the University of Virginia and completed journalism training with Reuters in Cairo and London.
During his time in Washington, D.C., he reported for Alittihad and became a member of the National Press Club. From 2000 to 2008, he wrote the widely read Dababees column, known for its critical take on social issues.
Throughout his career, Al Hammadi has conducted high-profile interviews with prominent leaders including UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and key Arab figures such as the late Yasser Arafat and former presidents of Yemen and Egypt.
He has reported on major historical events such as the Iran-Iraq war, the liberation of Kuwait, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. His work continues to shape and influence journalism in the UAE and the wider Arab world.