Execution Judge's Jurisdiction Over Sports Arbitration Awards

Judgment summary

The Dubai Court of Cassation established a key legal principle regarding awards from the Emirates Sports Arbitration Centre. It confirmed a General Assembly ruling that these awards are final and have the force of an executive deed, meaning a separate lawsuit to nullify them is not permissible. The sole method for challenging such an award is through a substantive enforcement dispute before the competent execution judge. The judge's role is not to re-examine the facts or merits but to ensure the award complies with general arbitration rules and procedural validity. In the case at hand, the lower court erred by refusing to review the appellant's nullification claims. The Court of Cassation overturned this decision, ruling that the execution judge failed to exercise the judicial oversight mandated, and referred the case back for a proper examination of the claims within the scope of this judicial review.