ENFORCEMENT TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED
AED 2.1 BILLION
2018 Jan. to Jun.
80%
SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL
OF SCT CASES ARE RESOLVED IN LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS AFTER SUCCESSFUL SERVICE
TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED
AED 30.6 MILLION
2018 Jan. to Jun.
24
PRO BONO CLINICS IN H1 2018
346
INDIVIDUALS SERVED
FACT
SHEET
HALF YEAR
2018 @difccourts
difccourts
www.difccourts.ae
@difccourts
difccourts
FACT SHEET H1 2018
JUDICIAL BENCH • Combined experience spans more than 300 years UK 3 3 UAE
DIFC COURTS TEAM 87% WOMEN
1 Malaysia Singapore 2 1
13% 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
Regular Events: Lecture Series and Annual Gala Dinner
Media Relations
Annual Report
An Actively Managed Website
eREGISTRY The DIFC Courts operate a full registry service online. This enables remote, 24/7 secure case progression and administration, e-payments and practitioner registration facilities. Registered Legal Practitioners in 2018
Law Firms: 134*
Individual Lawyers: 335*
Courtroom The state-of-the-art courtroom communications equipment plays a key role in supporting the increasing international caseloads in 2018. Parties are able to contribute to hearings via video conference or have access to their cases online.
DEVELOPING EMIRATI TALENT
KEY HIGHLIGHTS • Jan. 2018: MoU signed with Dubai Healthcare City Authority • Jan. 2018: Launch of the “Laws of the DIFC” Volume 2 • Mar. 2018: MoU signed with Dubai Design and Fashion Council
38%
*Figures updated as of June 2018
Australia
• Apr. 2018: MoU signed with Maastricht University during hackathon week • May 2018: MoU signed with University of Oxford’s China Centre
38% of the DIFC Courts team are UAE nationals
• May 2018: McGill University- DIFC Courts Clerkship Programme
News Alerts
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 2.2 BILLION
2018 Jan. to Jun.
Full year figure for 2017*
SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL (SCT) The only operating tribunal 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, cost-efficient 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 employment
OR
• In the context of claims which are not employment
value of the claims
or former employment of a party
related, the amount or value of the claim does not exceed
does not exceed
and the amount or value of the
AED 1 million; and all parties elect in writing that it
AED 500,000;
claims exceed AED 500,000 and
can be heard by SCT, such election can be made in the
all parties to the claim elect in
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
150 CASES
of SCT cases are resolved in less than four weeks after successful service
240 CASES
30.6
AED
80%
Total value of claims filed
MILLION
120%
SCT
INCREASE
H1 2017 - H1 2018
2018 Jan. to Jun. 2017 Jan. to Jun.
2018 Jan. to Jun.
*Settlement rate updated at the end of each financial year. This figure has been taken for the full year of 2017. The figure for 2018 will be updated in the Fact Sheet Full Year 2018.
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 SHANGHAI HIGH PEOPLE’S COURT
COMMERCIAL COURT OF ENGLAND AND WALES
HANGZHOU ARBITRATION COMMISSION
JORDANIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
THE PARIS CONVENTION THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (SDNY)
THE RIYADH CONVENTION
THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (2004)
THE NATIONAL COURT ADMINISTRATION OF THE SUPREME COURT OF KOREA
THE TUNISIAN REPUBLIC THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
HIGH COURT OF ZAMBIA
RAS AL KHAIMAH 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)
TREATIES MEMORANDUM OF GUIDANCE/MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
PRO BONO PROGRAMME
ENFORCEMENT
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.
Total value of claims filed
AED 2.1 BILLION 52 volunteer firms*
155 individual lawyers*
2018 Jan. to Jun.
THE PRO BONO CLINIC INITIATIVE Over 677 attendees from the UAE Legal Gala community gathered at the 2017 Legal Gala to support the DRA Academy of Law Pro Bono Programme in 2017. This year’s Legal Gala Dinner will take place on 8 November, at The Ritz-Carlton Dubai. For booking, contact legal.gala@draacademy.ae
*Figures updated as of June 2018
THE NEW SOUTH WALES SUPREME COURT
2016 Full Year
2017 Full Year
2018 Half Year
44 Clinics
49 Clinics
24 Clinics
505 individuals served
677 individuals served
346 individuals served*