E - Repeal of Article 257 of Federal Law No. 3/1987: A Welcome Change to the UAE's Arbitration Landscape
In 2016, the UAE introduced amendments to its Penal Code (Federal Law No. 3/1987), in particular, Article 257 of Federal Law No. 3/1987 which exposed arbitration professionals to criminal liability.
Introduction
The new provisions stated, ‘Any person who, while acting in the capacity of an arbitrator, expert, translator or investigator appointed by an administrative or judicial authority or elected by the parties, issues a decision, gives an opinion, presents a report or a case or establishes a fact in favour or against a person, contrary to the duty of objectivity and integrity, shall be punished by temporary imprisonment. The above individuals shall be prohibited from undertaking the assignments commissioned to them again and the provisions of Article 255 of this Law shall apply.'