KEY ACTIVITIES
• February: DIFC Courts awarded the Green Certificate by Moro Hub
• April: Issuance of Decree No. (29) of 2024
• April: MoU with The Law Society of Hong Kong
DIFC COURTS TEAM
JUDICIAL
BENCH
The DIFC Courts has been able to attract some of the world’s most experienced international judges, as well as retaining leading Emirati judges with trans-systemic expertise across civil and common law.
of the DIFC Courts team are UAE nationals
OUTREACH
The DIFC Courts is committed to transparency and customer engagement. This requires regular and robust communications with stakeholders conducted via:
eREGISTRY
Among the many technologies the courts have pioneered to increase access to justice, is the region’s first eRegistry in 2009, to the first digitally integrated courtroom and state-of-the-art e-Court system, as well as the region’s first ‘paperless’ e-bundling cloud solution in 2018. These early tech adoptions are now the bedrock that enables the DIFC Courts to maintain uninterrupted operations for court users. By increasing utilisation of our existing videoconferencing and teleconferencing facilities for applications and hearings, we are enabling court users and the public to access extensive eServices remotely from any smartphone, tablet or desktop device. This enables remote 24/7 secure case progression and administration, e-payments and practitioner registration facilities.
WILLS SERVICE
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE (CFI)
BILLION
SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL (SCT)
*100% REMOTE PROCEEDINGS
CFI (including Civil & Commercial Division, Technology & Construction Division, Arbitration Division, and Digital Economy Court Division)
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;
*96% REMOTE PROCEEDINGS CASES WEEKS
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;
OR OR
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.
NUMBER OF CLAIMS FILED
4-6 265
‘SMART’ SCT
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.
Average time for SCT cases to be resolved after successful service
MILLION 27.2
TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS AED
COURT OF APPEAL (CA)
The Court of Appeal deals with a variety of civil and commercial disputes. It comprises a panel of three (3) judges, and deals with:
- Appeals filed against judgments and awards made by the CFI
- Interpretations of any article of the DIFC’s laws based upon the request of any of the DIFC’s establishments, provided that the establishment obtains leave of the Chief Justice in this regard. Such interpretation shall have the power of law.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER COURTS AT HOME AND ABROAD
The DIFC Courts have signed many important memoranda with local and international courts. The DIFC Courts’ money judgments can be enforced internationally through treaties and reciprocal arrangements with common law courts overseas.
The Riyadh Convention (1983) Treaties
The GCC convention (1996) Memorandum of Guidance/Memorandum of Understanding
PRO BONO PROGRAMME
Launched in 2009, and the first of its kind in the region, the Pro Bono Programme was created for those who cannot afford a lawyer to receive access to free legal advice. Services range from basic advice to full case management and representation in proceedings. Since 2020, the Pro Bono Clinics offer online assistance in addition to the face-to-face consultation at the DIFC Courts premises.