DIFC courts boost reputation as a "safe haven" in the region for dispute resolution

• Total implementation claims amounted to AED 2.3 billion, an annual increase of 108%

The establishment of a new international tribunal for the digital economy

• The first fully paperless court in the region 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The DIFC courts today revealed their annual figures for 2021, with a total of 747 cases in all districts.

The Court of First Instance recorded 147 cases, with a total total case value of AED 3.8 billion and an average of AED 46.7 million per case, including the Technology and Construction Department and the Arbitration Chamber. 

The court record enhances entrepreneurs' confidence through enforceable provisions, with the total value of execution claims reaching AED 2.3 billion in 2021, an annual increase of 108%, as well as the registration of 239 executive cases.

Cases before the Court of First Instance covered a range of sectors including: banking and finance, construction, technology and real estate, including disputes relating to breach of contracts, insolvency, arbitration agreements, employment and general international law. Their conflicts. 

The Small Litigation Court registered 361 cases in 2021, with 65% of cases issued by parties who chose to use the DIFC courts as a dispute resolution.  Followed by employment (22%), property and rents (13%), banking and finance (3%). While praising the growing popularity of the Small Claims Tribunal in resolving disputes involving SMEs, the total value of claims registered in 2021 was AED 36.9 million, with an average of AED 106,000 per case.

In this context, Zaki Azmi, Head of Courts at the Dubai Financial Centre Global: "We continue to work to achieve our mission to achieve the best in litigation, arbitration and mediation with the aim of providing a new set of modern procedures leading to dispute resolution. This reinforces the diFC courts' vision not only of the need to develop cases, but also to contribute to the development of ways in which the court's user journey is determined.

The signing of cooperation agreements in 2021 has contributed to growing awareness of the services provided by THE DIFC courts. Um al-Quwain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the American University of the UAE. 

For his part, he said H.E. Judge Omar Al Muhairi, Director of Dubai Centre Courts Global Finance: "Although THE DIFC courts have developed directives to accommodate the needs of the regional legal community, the need for an original and stricter foundation mandate remains to strengthen Dubai and the UAE's geographical location in the Gulf as a strategic location for investors from around the world – a business gateway linking Between South and East Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa with the western half.

"The reputation of THE DIFC courts as a safe haven and a gateway to business is growing. The Council of Ministers is the ruler of Dubai, in strengthening Dubai's position as a global destination for financial and business activities." 

Innovation and future disputes

In 2021, the DIFC courts confirmed the launch of a new circuit, with the aim of the International Digital Economy Tribunal to streamline complex civil and commercial dispute resolution processes related to the digital economy, and to review national and international claims related to current and emerging technologies, including big data, blockchin, cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence and cloud services. 

In early 2022, a group of international lawyers and industry experts will be assigned by the new court to draft and adopt new procedures for the Digital Economy Court, which will be issued after a 30-day consultation of public opinion. 

In the direction of future courts, the COURTS of the Dubai World Financial Centre and the Dubai Foundation for the Future launched a new initiative in 2021 and activated courts space. The launch of the project indicates the UAE's intention to play a leading role in the development of its judicial systems with the aim of directing capabilities and competencies specifically to space-related commercial disputes. The team's responsibility is to explore legal innovations related to space and to provide an overview of the possible outcomes of scenarios around space disputes. 

The Technical Court Laboratory initiative was activated in 2021, where companies entered into a competition in conjunction with the Axelertor program launched by Dubai Future Foundation in the region 2071. for the advanced technology on which the courts are based. 

In 2022, the second phase of the Technical Court Laboratory initiative will be launched, in conjunction with a project built, launched and developed to enhance Dubai's position as the leading city in the field of new technologies.  Modern, flexible, judicial and service excellence, new standards will be set to promote justice for global companies. 

Flexibility of digital infrastructure

Statistics confirm that THE DIFC courts not only maintain the continuity of all services, but at the same time increase operational efficiency, significantly contribute to increasing digital applications and provisions, as well as providing more than 95% of remote hearings. Internal and digitally oriented services are 100%. 

This rapid transfer to digital hearings was also fully completed remotely in 2021 with the DIFC courts and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai issued in June 2021, with 80% of the litigation hearings held by default permanently before the end of 2021.

In 2021, the DIFC courts obtained the digital seal "Ithaq" as a way to protect court users, enhance the security and integrity of documents, and eliminate manipulation of official documents . Through a distinguished partnership with the Dubai Cyber Security Centre and the Dubai Digital Authority , THE DIFC courts are the first court in the UAE and the first entity in Dubai to receive an itation.

The electronic litigation system was among many technologies adopted by the DIFC courts to increase access to services, which was the first of its kind in the region when it was introduced in 2009, along with a digitally integrated courtroom with the latest electronic court management systems in 2017, as well as the region's first "paperless" electronic solution in 2018. Special initiatives under Future Courts have also helped drive advanced R&D activities in THE DIFC courts , unite individuals and institutions' efforts in prototypeing and launching court technology , such as blockchain initiatives, AI-enabled programs , and cloud-based software.

The full 2021:
https://www.difccourts.ae/media-centre/publications/annual-reports/difc-courts-annual-report-2021 annual report of the DIFC courts can be found at

About THE DIFC Courts:

The DIFC courts in the UAE have a unique English-language Angloxone system that provides a fast and independent judicial system for resolving local and international commercial and civil disputes . Dubai World is between its independence and its complement to the UAE's Arabic civil law system – providing an option that enhances the procedures of the two systems while ensuring that a world-class judicial system is within the reach of the public.

In October 2011, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, issued a decree opening the jurisdiction of the DIFC courts to companies and institutions from across the GCC and beyond, giving the global business community access to one of the world's most advanced commercial court systems.

The DIFC courts were established under the laws enacted by the late His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai , in September 2004. Early on, its track record reinforces Dubai's growing position as a global business kiss.

Inspired by his Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's vision, THE DIFC courts seek to develop the national workforce and enhance the competitive advantages of Emirati lawyers.

© Press Release 2022