Total value of claims filed AED 4.3 BILLION

CFI (including Civil & Commercial Division, Technology & Construction Division, Arbitration Division, and Digital Economy Court Division)

SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL (SCT) *100% REMOTE HEARINGS

The first of its kind in the region, the SCT was set up in 2007 to enable access to justice in a swift and efficient manner. The SCT operates with a community approach that promotes settlement. Cases in the SCT are resolved in an expeditious, cost-efficient manner without the need for lawyers.

The SCT can hear:

Claims within the jurisdiction of the DIFC where:

The amount or value of the claims does not exceed AED 500,000;

The claim relates to the employment or former employment of a party and the amount or value of the claims exceed AED 500,000 and all parties to the claim elect in writing that it be heard by the SCT. There is no value limit for the SCT’s elective jurisdiction in the context of employment claims;

Number Of Claims Filed

In the context of claims which are not employment related, the amount or value of the claim does not exceed AED 1 million; and all parties elect in writing that it can be heard by SCT, such election can be made in the underlying contract (if any) or subsequently.

‘SMART’ SCT

average time for SCT cases to be resolved after successful service 4-6 WEEKS

AED

472 CASES MILLION 43.2

TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS

Region’s first ‘Smart’ SCT launched in 2016, enabling parties to resolve disputes from any location by participating via smartphone, tablet, or desktop device. Only the judge need be present in the purpose-built facility in Dubai, with screens showing the parties and a control panel making it possible to either open the virtual courtroom to all, or switch to private mode.