Source: http://dubaiworldtribunal.ae/tribunal-rules/part-29-evidence/
Timestamp: 2017-06-28 19:01:33
Document Index: 271596002

Matched Legal Cases: ['ART 29', 'ART 29', 'ART 1', 'ART 2', 'ART 3', 'ART 4', 'ART 5', 'ART 6', 'ART 7', 'ART 8', 'ART 9', 'ART 10', 'ART 11', 'ART 12', 'ART 13', 'ART 14', 'ART 15', 'ART 16', 'ART 17', 'ART 18', 'ART 19', 'ART 20', 'ART 21', 'ART 22', 'ART 23', 'ART 24', 'ART 25', 'ART 26', 'ART 27', 'ART 28', 'ART 29', 'ART 30', 'ART 31', 'ART 32', 'ART 33', 'ART 34', 'ART 35', 'ART 36', 'ART 37', 'ART 38', 'ART 39', 'ART 40', 'ART 41', 'ART 42', 'ART 43', 'ART 44', 'art.\n29', 'art\n29', 'art.\n29', 'art 1']

PART 29 - Evidence - Dubai World Tribunal
PART 29 Evidence
PART 1 – Citation, commencement, application and the overriding objectivePART 2 — InterpretationPART 3 – Organisation of the TribunalPART 4 – The Tribunal’s case management powersPART 5 – FormsPART 6 – Tribunal documentsPART 7 – How to start a claim – the claim formPART 8 – Alternative procedure for claimsPART 9 – ServicePART 10 – Responding to the particulars of claim – GeneralPART 11 – Acknowledgment of servicePART 12 – Disputing the Tribunal’s JurisdictionPART 13 – Default JudgmentPART 14 – Setting aside or varying default judgmentPART 15 – AdmissionsPART 16 – Defence and ReplyPART 17 – Statements of casePART 18 – Amendments to statements of casePART 19 – Further informationPART 20 – Addition and substitution of partiesPART 21 – Counterclaims and other additional claimsPART 22 – – Statements of truthPART 23 – General Rules about applications for Tribunal OrdersPART 24 – Immediate judgmentPART 25 – Interim remedies and security for costsPART 26 – Case ManagementPART 27 – Justice by reconciliationPART 28 – Production of documentsPART 29 – EvidencePART 30 – Witnesses and depositionsPART 31- Experts and assessorsPART 32 – Offers to settlePART 33 – Payments inPART 34 – DiscontinuancePART 35 – Miscellaneous provisions relating to hearingsPART 36 – Judgments and OrdersPART 37 – Change of Legal RepresentativePART 38 – General Rules about costsPART 39 – Procedure for detailed assessment of costsPART 40 – Proceedings by or against the Centre, its Bodies and the GovernmentPART 41 – Arbitration ClaimsPART 42 – InterpleaderPART 43 – ContemptPART 44 – Small Claims Panel ContentsI EVIDENCE IN GENERALPower of the Tribunal to control evidenceEvidence of witnesses – General RuleEvidence by video link or other meansDefects in affidavits, witness statements and exhibitsII WITNESS STATEMENTSPreparation and form of witness statementsFluency of witnessesHeadingBody of witness statementFormat of witness statementStatement of truthAlterations to witness statementsFiling of witness statementsRequirement to serve witness statements for use at trialUse at trial of witness statements which have been servedCross-examination on a witness statementWitness summariesConsequence of failure to serve witness statement or summaryEvidence in proceedings other than at trialOrder for cross-examinationUse of witness statements for other purposesAvailability of witness statements for inspectionCertificate of Tribunal OfficerIII AFFIDAVIT EVIDENCEDeponentHeadingBody of affidavitJuratFormat of AffidavitsInability of deponent to read or sign affidavitAlterations to affidavitsWho may administer oaths and take affidavitsFiling of affidavitsExhibitsAffirmationsAffidavit made outside DubaiIV HEARSAY EVIDENCEIntroductoryNotice of intention to rely on hearsay evidenceCircumstances in which notice of intention to rely on hearsay evidence is not requiredPower to call witness for cross-examination on hearsay evidenceCredibilityV MISCELLANEOUS RULES ABOUT EVIDENCENotice to admit factsNotice to admit or produce documentsNotarial acts and instrumentsStatements of caseAgreed bundles for hearingsUse of plans, photographs and models as evidenceEvidence of finding on question of foreign lawEvidence of consent of trustee to actVI FALSE STATEMENTSPenalty
29.1 This Part sets out how evidence is to be given and facts are to be proved.
29.2 Evidence at a hearing other than the trial should normally be given by witness statement. A witness statement is a written statement signed by a person which contains the evidence which that person would be allowed to give orally.
29.3 A witness may give evidence by affidavit if he wishes to do so.
29.4 Statements of case and application notices may also be used as evidence provided that their contents have been verified by a statement of truth.
29.5 Affidavits must be used as evidence in the following instances:
(1) where sworn evidence is required by an enactment, Rule, order or Practice Direction,
(2) in any application for a search order, a freezing order, or an order requiring an occupier to permit another to enter his land, and
(3) in any application for an order against anyone for alleged contempt.
29.6 If a party believes that sworn evidence is required by a Court in another jurisdiction for any purpose connected with the proceedings, he may apply to the Tribunal for a direction that evidence shall be given only by affidavit on any pre-trial applications.
29.7 The Tribunal may give a direction that evidence shall be given by affidavit instead of or in addition to a witness statement or statement of case:
(1) on its own initiative, or
(2) after any party has applied to the Tribunal for such a direction.
29.8 An affidavit, where referred to in these Rules or a Practice Direction, also means an affirmation unless the context requires otherwise.
Power of the Tribunal to control evidence
29.9 The Tribunal may control the evidence by giving directions as to –
(3) the way in which the evidence is to be placed before the Tribunal.
29.10 The Tribunal may use its power under Rule 29.9 to exclude evidence that would otherwise be admissible.
29.11 The Tribunal may limit cross-examination.
29.12 The general rule is that any fact which needs to be proved by the evidence of witnesses is to be proved –
29.13 This is subject –
(2) to any order of the Tribunal.
29.14 The Tribunal may allow a witness to give evidence through a video link or by other means.
29.15 Where:
does not comply with this Part in relation to its form, the Tribunal may refuse to admit it as evidence and may refuse to allow the costs arising from its preparation.
29.16 Permission to file a defective affidavit or witness statement or to use a defective exhibit must be obtained from the Tribunal.
29.17 A witness statement must comply with the requirements set out in this section of this Part.
29.18 The following points are emphasised:
(5) it must indicate which of the statements made in it are made from the witness’s own knowledge and which are made on information or belief, giving the source for any statement made on information or belief;
(6) it must contain a statement by the witness that he believes the matters stated in it are true; proceedings for contempt of Tribunal may be brought against a person if he makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a witness statement without an honest belief in its truth.
29.19 It is improper to put pressure of any kind on a witness to give anything other than his own account of the matters with which his statement deals. It is also improper to serve a witness statement which is known to be false or which it is known the maker does not in all respects actually believe to be true.
29.20 If a witness is not sufficiently fluent in English to give his evidence in English, the witness statement should be in the witness’s own language and a translation provided.
29.21 If a witness is not fluent in English but can make himself understood in broken English and can understand written English, the statement need not be in his own words provided that these matters are indicated in the statement itself. It must however be written so as to express as accurately as possible the substance of his evidence.
29.22 The witness statement should be headed with the title of the proceedings where the proceedings are between several parties with the same status it is sufficient to identify the parties as follows:
29.23 At the top right hand corner of the first page (and on the backsheet) there should be clearly written:
29.24 The witness statement must, if practicable, be in the intended witness’s own words, the statement should be expressed in the first person and should also state:
29.25 A witness statement must indicate:
29.26 An exhibit used in conjunction with a witness statement should be verified and identified by the witness and remain separate from the witness statement.
29.27 Where a witness refers to an exhibit or exhibits, he should state “I refer to the (description of exhibit) marked ‘…’”.
29.28 The provisions of Rules 29.85 to 29.98 (exhibits) apply similarly to witness statements as they do to affidavits.
29.29 Where a witness makes more than one witness statement to which there are exhibits, in the same proceedings, the numbering of the exhibits should run consecutively throughout and not start again with each witness statement.
29.30 A witness statement should:
(1) be fully legible and should normally be typed on one side of the paper only,
(2) where possible, be bound securely in a manner which would not hamper filing, or otherwise each page should be endorsed with the case number and should bear the initials of the witness,
(3) have the pages numbered consecutively as a separate statement (or as one of several statements contained in a file),
(4) be divided into numbered paragraphs,
(5) have all numbers, including dates, expressed in figures, and
29.31 It is usually convenient for a witness statement to follow the chronological sequence of the events or matters dealt with, each paragraph of a witness statement should as far as possible be confined to a distinct portion of the subject.
29.32 A witness statement is the equivalent of the oral evidence which that witness would, if called, give in evidence; it must include a statement by the intended witness that he believes the facts in it are true.
29.33 To verify a witness statement the statement of truth is as follows: ‘I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true’.
29.34 Attention is drawn to Section VI of this Part which sets out the consequences of verifying a witness statement containing a false statement without an honest belief in its truth.
29.35 Any alteration to a witness statement must be initialled by the person making the statement or by the authorised person where appropriate.
29.36 A witness statement which contains an alteration that has not been initialled may be used in evidence only with the permission of the Tribunal.
29.37 If the Tribunal directs that a witness statement is to be filed, it must be filed in the Registry.
29.38 Where the Tribunal has directed that a witness statement in a language other than English is to be filed:
(b) file the witness statement in its original language with the Tribunal, and
(2) the translator must make and file with the Tribunal an affidavit verifying the translation and exhibiting both the translation and a copy of the witness statement in its original language.
29.39 The Tribunal will order a party to serve on the other parties any witness statement of the oral evidence which the party serving the statement intends to rely on in relation to any issues of fact to be decided at the trial.
29.40 The Tribunal may give directions as to –
29.41 If –
(2) he wishes to rely at trial on the evidence of the witness who made the statement,
he must call the witness to give oral evidence unless the Tribunal orders otherwise or he puts the statement in as hearsay evidence.
29.42 Where a witness is called to give oral evidence under Rule 29.41, his witness statement shall stand as his evidence in chief unless the Tribunal orders otherwise.
29.43 In an appropriate case the Tribunal may direct that the whole or any part of a witness’s evidence in chief is to be given orally. Any application for such an order should be made at the beginning of the trial.
29.44 A witness giving oral evidence at trial may with the permission of the Tribunal –
29.45 The Tribunal will give permission under Rule 29.44 only if it considers that there is good reason not to confine the evidence of the witness to the contents of his witness statement.
29.46 A supplemental witness statement should normally be served where the witness proposes materially to add to, alter, correct or retract from what is in his original statement. Permission will be required for the service of a supplemental statement.
29.47 A party who has decided not to call to give oral evidence at trial a witness whose statement has been served must give prompt notice of this decision to all other parties. He must at the same time state whether he proposes to put the statement in as hearsay evidence.
29.48 If a party who has served a witness statement does not –
(2) put the witness statement in as hearsay evidence,
29.49 Where a witness is called to give evidence at trial, he may be cross-examined on his witness statement, whether or not the statement or any part of it was referred to during the witness’s evidence in chief.
29.50 A party who –
29.51 A witness summary is a summary of –
29.52 Unless the Tribunal orders otherwise, a witness summary must include the name and address of the intended witness.
29.53 Unless the Tribunal orders otherwise, a witness summary must be served within the period in which a witness statement would have had to be served.
29.54 Where a party serves a witness summary, so far as practicable the provisions of this section of this Part with regard to the form of witness statement and Rules 29.39 and 29.40 (requirement to serve witness statements for use at trial) and 29.44 (amplifying witness statements) shall apply to the summary.
29.55 If a witness statement or a witness summary for use at trial is not served in respect of an intended witness within the time specified by the Tribunal, then the witness may not be called to give oral evidence unless the Tribunal gives permission.
29.56 Subject to Rule 29.57, the general rule is that evidence at hearings other than the trial is to be by witness statement unless the Tribunal, a Practice Direction or any other enactment requires otherwise.
29.57 At hearings other than the trial, a party may rely on the matters set out in –
(1) his statement of case; or
(2) his application notice,
29.58 Where, at a hearing other than the trial, evidence is given in writing, any party may apply to the Tribunal for permission to cross-examine the person giving the evidence.
29.59 If the Tribunal gives permission under Rule 29.58 but the person in question does not attend as required by the order, his evidence may not be used unless the Tribunal gives permission.
29.60 A witness statement may be used only for the purpose of the proceedings in which it is served unless –
(2) the Tribunal gives permission for some other use; or
29.61 A witness statement which stands as evidence in chief is open to inspection during the course of the trial unless the Tribunal otherwise directs.
29.62 Any person may ask for a direction that a witness statement is not open to inspection.
29.63 The Tribunal will not make a direction under Rule 29.62 unless it is satisfied that a witness statement should not be open to inspection because of –
29.64 The Tribunal may exclude from inspection words or passages in the statement.
Certificate of Tribunal Officer
29.65 Where the Tribunal has ordered that a witness statement is not to be open to inspection by the public or that words or passages in the statement are not to be open to inspection, a Tribunal Officer will so certify on the statement and make any deletions directed by the Tribunal under Rule 29.64.
29.66 Evidence must be given by affidavit instead of or in addition to a witness statement if this is required by the Tribunal, a provision contained in any other Rule, a Practice Direction or any other enactment.
29.67 Nothing in these Rules prevents a witness giving evidence by affidavit at a hearing other than the trial if he chooses to do so in a case where Rule 29.66 does not apply, but the party putting forward the affidavit may not recover the additional cost of making it from any other party unless the Tribunal orders otherwise.
29.68 A deponent is a person who gives evidence by affidavit or affirmation.
29.69 The affidavit should be headed with the title of the proceedings; where the proceedings are between several parties with the same status it is sufficient to identify the parties as follows:
29.70 At the top right hand corner of the first page (and on the backsheet) there should be clearly written:
29.71 The affidavit must, if practicable, be in the deponent’s own words, the affidavit should be expressed in the first person and the deponent should:
29.72 An affidavit must indicate:
29.73 Where a deponent:
29.74 The jurat of an affidavit is a statement set out at the end of the document which authenticates the affidavit. The general form of jurat is set out in the Schedule to this Part
29.75 It must:
29.76 An affidavit should:
(1) be produced on A4 paper,
29.77 It is usually convenient for an affidavit to follow the chronological sequence of events or matters dealt with; each paragraph of an affidavit should as far as possible be confined to a distinct portion of the subject.
29.78 Where an affidavit is sworn by a person who is unable to read or sign it, the person before whom the affidavit is sworn must certify in the jurat that:
29.79 If that certificate is not included in the jurat, the affidavit may not be used in evidence unless the Tribunal is satisfied that it was read to the deponent and that he appeared to understand it. Two versions of the form of jurat with the certificate are set out in the Schedule to this Part.
29.80 Any alteration to an affidavit must be initialled by both the deponent and the person before whom the affidavit was sworn.
29.81 An affidavit which contains an alteration that has not been initialled may be filed or used in evidence only with the permission of the Tribunal.
29.82 Only the following may administer oaths and take affidavits:
(1) the Registrar;
(2) a person registered in the DIFC Tribunal’s Register of Legal Practitioners;
(3) any person authorised to administer oaths in the UAE; or
29.83 If the Tribunal directs that an affidavit is to be filed, it must be filed in the Registry.
29.84 Where an affidavit is in a language other than English:
(b) must file the affidavit in its original language with the Tribunal, and
(2) the translator must make and file with the Tribunal an affidavit verifying the translation and exhibiting both the translation and a copy of the affidavit in its original language.
29.85 A document used in conjunction with an affidavit should be:
29.86 The declaration should be headed with the name of the proceedings in the same way as the affidavit.
29.87 The first page of each exhibit should be marked:
(1) as in Rule 29.70 above, and
29.88 Copies of individual letters should be collected together and exhibited in a bundle or bundles. They should be arranged in chronological order with the earliest at the top, and firmly secured.
29.89 When a bundle of correspondence is exhibited, the exhibit should have a front page attached stating that the bundle consists of original letters and copies. They should be arranged and secured as above and numbered consecutively.
29.90 Photocopies instead of original documents may be exhibited provided the originals are made available for inspection by the other parties before the hearing and by the Tribunal.
29.91 Tribunal documents must not be exhibited (official copies of such documents prove themselves).
29.92 Where an exhibit contains more than one document, a front page should be attached setting out a list of the documents contained in the exhibit; the list should contain the dates of the documents.
29.93 Items other than documents should be clearly marked with an exhibit number or letter in such a manner that the mark cannot become detached from the exhibit.
29.94 Small items may be placed in a container and the container appropriately marked.
29.95 Where an exhibit contains more than one document:
29.96 Every page of an exhibit should be clearly legible; typed copies of illegible documents should be included, paginated with ‘a’ numbers.
29.97 Where affidavits and exhibits have become numerous, they should be put into separate bundles and the pages numbered consecutively throughout.
29.98 Where on account of their bulk the service of exhibits or copies of exhibits on the other parties would be difficult or impracticable, the directions of the Tribunal should be sought as to arrangements for bringing the exhibits to the attention of the other parties and as to their custody pending trial.
29.99 All provisions in these Rules relating to affidavits apply to affirmations with the following exceptions:
Affidavit made outside Dubai
A person may make an affidavit outside Dubai in accordance with –
(2) the law of the place where he makes the affidavit.
Where a party intends to rely on hearsay evidence at trial and either –
that party will be deemed to give notice of such an intention by serving a witness statement on the other parties in accordance with the Tribunal’s order.
Where Rule 29.102(2) applies, the party intending to rely on the hearsay evidence must, when he serves the witness statement –
In all other cases where a party intends to rely on hearsay evidence at trial, that party must serve a notice on the other parties which –
The party proposing to rely on the hearsay evidence must –
The duty to give notice of intention to rely on hearsay evidence does not apply –
(3) where the requirement is excluded by these Rules.
(2) does not propose to call the person who made the original statement to give oral evidence,
the Tribunal may, on the application of any other party, permit that party to call the maker of the statement to be cross-examined on the contents of the statement.
(3) another party wishes to call evidence to attack the credibility of the person who made the statement,
Where the other party makes any admission in response to the notice, the admission may be used against him only –
The Tribunal may allow a party to amend or withdraw any admission made by him on such terms as it thinks just.
A notice to prove a document must be served –
The Tribunal may give directions requiring the parties to use their best endeavours to agree a bundle or bundles of documents for use at any hearing.
(1) the Tribunal orders otherwise; or
Rules 29.124 to 29.130 apply to evidence (such as a plan, photograph or model) which is not –
Unless the Tribunal orders otherwise the evidence shall not be receivable at a trial unless the party intending to put it in evidence has given notice to the other parties in accordance with Rules 29.126 to 29.130.
He must give notice at least 21 days before the hearing at which he proposes to put in the evidence, if –
Where the evidence is being produced to the Tribunal for any reason other than as part of factual or expert evidence, he must give notice at least 21 days before the hearing at which he proposes to put in the evidence.
Rules 29.133 to 29.135 set out the procedure which must be followed by a party who intends to put in evidence a finding on a question of foreign law.
For the purpose of this Part, “Foreign law” means any law other than
(1) the laws applied to proceedings before the Tribunal pursuant to Article 4 of the Tribunal Decree; and
(2) the laws of England and Wales.
He must give the notice –
29.135 The notice must –
Proceedings for contempt may be brought against a person if he makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.
Proceedings under Rule 29.137 may be brought only with the permission of the Tribunal.
Where a party alleges that a statement of truth or a Disclosure Statement is false the party shall refer that allegation to the Tribunal.
The Tribunal may –
(1) exercise any of its powers under these Rules;
(2) initiate steps to consider whether there is a contempt of the Tribunal and, where there is, to punish it;
Where a party makes an application to the Tribunal for permission for that party to commence proceedings for contempt of the Tribunal, it must be supported by written evidence which –
(1) identifies the statement said to be false; and
(2) explains –
(a) how it is false, and
(c) explains why contempt proceedings would be appropriate in the light of the overriding objective in Part 1 of these Rules.