ENFORCEMENT TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED
AED 3.4 BILLION
2017 Jan.-Dec.
85%
SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL
OF SCT CASES ARE RESOLVED IN LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS AFTER SUCCESSFUL SERVICE
TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED
AED 36.2 MILLION
FACT
SHEET FULL YEAR
2017
2017 Jan.-Dec.
49
PRO BONO CLINICS IN 2017
677
INDIVIDUALS SERVED
@difccourts
difccourts
www.difccourts.ae
@difccourts
difccourts
JUDICIAL BENCH
FACTSHEET 2017
• Combined experience spans more than 300 YEARS • Judges from 5 countries, Including first female judge from Singapore
UK 3 3 UAE
DIFC COURTS TEAM 60% WOMEN
1 Malaysia Singapore 2 1
40%
Australia
MEN
OUTREACH The DIFC Courts are committed to transparency and customer engagement. This requires regular and robust communications with stakeholders conducted via:
Quarterly Newsletters
Social Media
eREGISTRY
Regular Events: Quarterly Lecture Series and Annual Legal Gala Dinner
Media Relations
Annual Review
An actively managed website
News Alerts
The DIFC Courts operate a full registry service on-line. This enables remote 24/7 secure case progression and administration, e-payments and practitioner registration facilities. Registered Legal Practitioners in 2017
Law Firms: *120
Individual Lawyers: *814
Courtroom The state-of-the-art courtroom communications equipment plays a key role in supporting the increasing international caseloads in 2017. Parties are able to contribute to hearings via video conference or have access to their cases online, as well as use e-bundling.
DEVELOPING EMIRATI TALENT
KEY HIGHLIGHTS • Feb. 2017: Launch of DIFC Courts “Commentaries on the DIFC Laws” • Mar. 2017: MoU with the Federal Court of Malaysia • Mar. 2017: Appointment of Singaporean judge, Justice Judith Prakash to DIFC Courts bench • May 2017: MoU with Abu Dhabi Judicial Department • Jun. 2017: Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah endorses DIFC Courts’ General Counsel Forum
50%
• July 2017: DRA and Microsoft sign MoU to prototype commercial court of the future • Sep. 2017: Launch of the new Technology and Construction Division within DIFC Courts
50% of the DIFC Courts team are UAE nationals
*Figures updated as of December 2017
• Sep. 2017: DIFC Courts and Dubai Future Foundation create the Courts of the Future Forum • Oct. 2017: MoU with High Court of Zambia • Oct. 2017: DRA forges alliance with Hangzhou Arbitration Commission • Nov. 2017: Courts of the Future launches global consultation
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE (CFI) The CFI has exclusive jurisdiction over any civil or commercial case when it relates to the DIFC. It can also hear cases when the contract in question specifies DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction (pre-dispute jurisdiction) or when both parties elect to use DIFC Courts to resolve a dispute which has already arisen (post-dispute resolution). One judge hears proceedings in the CFI.
Total value of claims filed
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
Settlement rate in the CFI
CFI (Including Arbitration)**
96% of visitors said they were happy with the services provided by DIFC Courts
88%
settlement rate
AED 471.2 MILLION
2017 Jan.-Dec.
*Full year figure for 2017
SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL (SCT) The first of its kind in the region, the SCT was set up 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, costefficient manner without the need for lawyers. The SCT can hear: Claims within the jurisdiction of the DIFC where: • The amount or
OR • The claim relates to the
OR
• In the context of claims which are not employment related,
value of the claims
employment or former employment
the amount or value of the claim does not exceed
does not exceed
of a party and the amount or value
AED 1 million; and all parties elect in writing that it can
AED 500,000;
of the claims exceed AED 500,000
be heard by SCT, such election can be made in
and all parties to the claim elect in
the underlying contract (if any) or subsequently.
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
218 CASES
of SCT cases are resolved in less than four weeks after successful service
363 CASES
36.2
AED
85%
Total value of claims filed
MILLION
SCT 75%
INCREASE 2017 Jan.-Dec. 2016 Jan.-Dec.
2017 Jan.-Dec.
**Settlement rate updated at the end of each financial year. This figure has been taken from full year 2017.
ENFORCEMENT
COURT OF APPEAL (CA)
Total value of claims filed
The Court of Appeal deals with a variety of civil and commercial disputes. It comprises a panel of three 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.
AED 3.4 BILLION 2017 Jan.-Dec.
COOPERATION WITH OTHER COURTS AT HOME AND ABROAD DIFC Courts have signed many important memoranda with local and international courts. DIFC Courts’ money judgments can be enforced internationally through treaties and reciprocal arrangements with common law courts overseas.
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
COMMERCIAL COURT OF ENGLAND AND WALES THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (SDNY)
THE PARIS CONVENTION
THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC
THE RIYADH CONVENTION
THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
HIGH COURT OF ZAMBIA
SHANGHAI HIGH PEOPLE’S COURT
THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (2004)
RAS AL KHAIMAH
HANGZHOU ARBITRATION COMMISSION
THE NATIONAL COURT ADMINISTRATION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF KOREA
THE GCC CONVENTION
THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
THE SUPREME COURT OF SINGAPORE
FEDERAL COURT OF MALAYSIA
THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
THE RIYADH CONVENTION (1983) THE GCC CONVENTION (1996)
THE NEW SOUTH WALES SUPREME COURT
TREATIES MEMORANDUM OF GUIDANCE/MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
PRO BONO PROGRAMME
THE PRO BONO CLINIC INITIATIVE
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.
Over 677 attendees from the UAE Legal Gala community gathered at the 2017 Legal Gala to support the DIFC Academy of Law Pro Bono Programme. The Legal Gala Dinner will take place on 8 November, 2018 at the Ritz Carlton Dubai. For booking, contact legal.gala@draacademy.ae
*52 volunteer firms
*Figures updated as of December 2017
*154 individual lawyers
2015 Full Year
2016 Full Year
2017 Full Year
23 Clinics
44 Clinics
49 Clinics
179 individuals served
505 individuals served
*677 individuals served