The Better Business Desk at Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry recently organized a workshop on mediation training, in association with the Australia-based LEADER Association of Dispute Resolvers.

The workshop is a part of a series of workshops and seminars that the Better Business Desk is arranging periodically in line with the Chamber’s strategy of supporting its members and helping them maintain continuous relations without any interruption related to disputes, as well as to enhance a better climate for businesses to flourish in Dubai.

Jehad Kazim, Manager of Better Business Desk at Dubai Chamber, said the Chamber offers a wide range of alternative commercial dispute resolutions including mediation which significantly contributes to achieve the Chamber’s vision in being the recognized and indispensable source of competitive advantages for the business community in Dubai.

“The main goal of the workshop was to train the Better Business Desk staff on the techniques of dispute resolution and conflict management. The workshop is the first of its kind targeting the legal staff of the Chamber who was trained on how to use mediation as an efficient tool to resolve commercial disputes,” said Kazim.

Officials from Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as Dubai Department of Economic Development, have also participated in the workshop.

“The staff participated in the workshop are now certified in dispute resolution through mediation. They are now more aware of the dynamics of conflicts, better understanding of mediation models and more capable of improving their skills of handling commercial disputes and facilitating the conflict management process,” Kazim added.

Bradley Chenoweth, Trainer of LEADER Association of Dispute Resolvers, highlighted the importance of the workshop for members of the Dubai Chamber, as well as for the public, to learn about the availability of a facility that helps resolving commercial disputes in efficient and amicable way, saving time and expenses which are usually required by any other kind of solutions.

“It is a new privilege for Dubai Chamber to offer such a significant service to assist its members and the business community in managing and resolving their disputes and conflicts through mediation,” said Chenoweth.

He added that LEADER trainers have extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, mediation in commercial workplaces, industrial and family settings, as well as in facilitating discussions and decision making in a multi-national community.

Seeking to assist and support the business community in Dubai, Dubai Chamber has established the Better Business Desk to look into commercial disputes and help parties to reach an amicable settlement which satisfies the interests and needs of both disputants, in addition to help in preserving the business relations of the parties involved in conflicts.