Authorities in Dubai have expanded a justice programme that enables out-of-court settlements to cover certain minor criminal cases.
Previously, Dubai Public Prosecution's Al Solh Khair (Better to Settle) initiative was only applicable for disputes between family members.
Now the programme will also apply to cases including mutual assault, issuing insults and minor thefts where disputes can be resolved through settlements and direct compensation, rather than protracted legal proceedings, it was announced on Tuesday.
All criminal cases submitted before the Public Prosecution will now be assessed to find out whether they can be considered for the programme.
“This is more than a legal tool. Reconciliation is one of the highest expressions of social and human justice,” said Essam Al Humaidan, Attorney General of Dubai. “It doesn’t just resolve disputes; it restores trust, promotes understanding, and strengthens community bonds.”
The initiative will enable public prosecutors to propose reconciliation to both parties early in the process. If both sides agree the prosecutor leads efforts to reach a fair and mutually acceptable settlement.
“Choosing dialogue over litigation saves time, effort, and resources. It also nurtures a culture of tolerance and turns conflict into opportunity,” said Mr Al Humaidan. “When reason is chosen over escalation, human values prevail over hostility.”
Seeking solutions
Al Solh Khair was launched in 2021 to focus on family and juvenile cases. It was introduced a year after prosecutors saw that 198 out of 490 of family cases were resolved amicably.
This led to the creation of a designated family room inside the Public Prosecution building where social workers mediate between disputing family members.
Beyond easing pressure on courts and reducing legal expenses, the initiative carries significant social benefits, said Mr Al Humaidan. “It encourages people to resolve issues rationally, reduce tensions, and avoid the long-term strain of litigation."
AGL AWARDS
Golden Ball - best Emirati player: Khalfan Mubarak (Al Jazira)
Golden Ball - best foreign player: Igor Coronado (Sharjah)
Golden Glove - best goalkeeper: Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah)
Best Coach - the leader: Abdulaziz Al Anbari (Sharjah)
Fans' Player of the Year: Driss Fetouhi (Dibba)
Golden Boy - best young player: Ali Saleh (Al Wasl)
Best Fans of the Year: Sharjah
Goal of the Year: Michael Ortega (Baniyas)
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If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Seattle from Dh5,555 return, including taxes. Portland is a 260 km drive from Seattle and Emirates offers codeshare flights to Portland with its partner Alaska Airlines.
The car
Hertz (www.hertz.ae) offers compact car rental from about $300 per week, including taxes. Emirates Skywards members can earn points on their car hire through Hertz.
Parks and accommodation
For information on Crater Lake National Park, visit www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm . Because of the altitude, large parts of the park are closed in winter due to snow. While the park’s summer season is May 22-October 31, typically, the full loop of the Rim Drive is only possible from late July until the end of October. Entry costs $25 per car for a day. For accommodation, see www.travelcraterlake.com. For information on Umpqua Hot Springs, see www.fs.usda.gov and https://soakoregon.com/umpqua-hot-springs/. For Bend, see https://www.visitbend.com/.
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Towering concerns
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Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
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- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The biog
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The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
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Dhadak
Director: Shashank Khaitan
Starring: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Ashutosh Rana
Stars: 3
Key facilities
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Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
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PREMIER LEAGUE RESULTS
Bournemouth 1 Manchester City 2
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French business
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