How to Prepare for Mediation: Beyond the Practical Checklist

A guide to emotional readiness in high-stakes conversations

In recent years, mediation is gaining ground in the United Arab Emirates as a more humane way to resolve family disputes during separation and divorce. It offers an alternative to litigation that is typically faster, less adversarial, and crucially, more focused on preserving relationships where possible.

Most people arrive at mediation with a vague sense of what to expect. They have heard it’s ‘’less formal’’ or ‘’more flexible’’ than court. They know that the mediator is neutral and that the aim is to reach ‘’an agreement’’. But very few arrive emotionally prepared for what the process actually involves.

Be clear on what matters and why

Mediation requires an emotional orientation that doesn’t come easily in the midst of separation. One of the most useful things that you can do before mediation is to ask yourself not just what you want, but why you want it. What principle is at stake? What are you trying to protect or preserve?

This shift from position to value can change the tone of dialogue entirely. It can also help you move from a position of bias to one of compassion and understanding. Communicating clearly about your deeper concerns makes it easier for others to hear you, come towards you, and for creative options to emerge.

Use I statements

Mediation is a form of dispute resolution and it is likely that you will be challenged by the other person. If you start with an I statement about what is true for you, it is more likely that the other person will be able to hear you without feeling attacked or insulted. Disclose rather than blame.

Emotional granularity can help move conversations forward. Go beyond ‘’mad’’, ‘’bad’’, or ‘’sad’’ and use more specific language for what you are feeling. Our Emotions Wheel, available on our website, can help you find words that bring clarity to both your emotions and what matters most to you.

Support is not a sign of weakness

Mediation is a self- directed process, but this doesn’t mean it has to be done alone. A reflective conversation beforehand with a support professional can help you clarify your goals, test your thinking and recognise what may be hard to say aloud before you sit across from the person who may have unsettled you. This kind of preparation is not about building a strategy but accessing inner clarity and restoring emotional regulation.

The tone you set outlasts the process

Mediation can shape how you will communicate with each other for years to come, which is especially important if there are children involved and co-parenting dynamics to deal with. Children thrive when conflict is reduced and communication becomes more respectful. In our Resources section, there is a link to a UK report produced by the Department of Work and Pensions in 2019, which considers the impact of ongoing, unresolved and frequent parental conflict on children.

Mediation is not only about resolving issues; it is also an opportunity to reflect and realign with what matters most. It can be a pause in the conflict pattern, and the beginning of relational repair that brings lasting benefits.