Justice is being seen to be done in Dubai after courts resumed remote hearings on Sunday and opened up proceedings to the public.
Initial sessions held by video conference in the Court of Cassation, the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance drew large viewing numbers as members of the public took a glimpse behind the chamber doors.
Cases heard online included labour, civil, commercial and personal status matters. Criminal hearings remain suspended, subject to further review next week.
Public court sessions were halted from Sunday, March 22 until Thursday, April 6 as part of nationwide efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus.
“Some (online) hearings were attended by more than 30 people, which is something remarkable and proves the success of this experience,” said Hamad Matar, head of communications at Dubai Courts.
He said that judges, court clerks, and translators among other court employees have taken extensive training to ensure they were ready to take part in online hearings.
“Everything was taken into consideration including checking networks and devices at their homes to ensure that uninterrupted e-hearings take place,” said Mr Matar.
Members of the public can access hearings from 8.30am each day on the Dubai Courts website, under electronic services.
“They can click on the 'list of cases', which will direct them to the actual list of hearings taking place on that day then by clicking on the camera icon next to each hearing, they can attend,” said the official.
A pass will be granted by the hearing’s clerk.
However, cases of sensitive nature such as family disputes are not open to the public.
“Prior to all this, family cases were held in private, therefore, we took that into consideration and only involved parties in family cases receive invitations from the clerk to attend the hearing,” Mr Matar said.
Earlier this month, Abu Dhabi court officials announced they would be conducting trial by video to ensure the wheels of justice were not halted by Covid-19.
Virtual courts are deployed to allow defendants to take part in proceedings while in custody.
The remote litigation scheme allows hearings to take place online, with judges able to hear cases live before delivering verdicts.
The hi-tech initiative is in line with the UAE government's stay-home strategy, aimed at limiting social interaction and helping to limit infections.
All parties involved in hearings – defendants, complainants and legal counsel – can access a live video link.
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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