UAE Courts' interpretation of the jurisdiction of the Commercial Agencies Committee extends to include third parties

Analysis

The UAE Federal Law no. 18 of 1981 as amended by Law no. 2 of 2010 (the “Law”) regulates the subject of Commercial Agencies and explicitly confer the jurisdiction over any dispute that arises in connection with a commercial agency to the Commercial Agencies Committee (the “Committee”).

The Committee is a body of the government created by Cabinet Resolution no. 3 of 2011 and charged with adjudicating disputes that arise by reason of a registered commercial agency. 

Pursuant to the Law, decisions of the Committee may be appealed to the competent court within 30 days from the date of notifying the parties of the Committee's quasi judicial decision.