88%
of SCT cases are resolved in less than 4 weeks after successful service
Total value of claims filed
Settlement rate in the CFI
AED
CFI (Including Arbitration)
83%
7.5
settlement rate
BILLION
2016
JAN. - JUNE
FACT
SHEET
H1 2017
Full year figure for 2016
@difccourts difccourts www.difccourts.ae
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION 97% of visitors said they were happy with the services provided by DIFC Courts
@difccourts
Difccourts
FACTSHEET 2017
JUDICIAL BENCH
DIFC COURTS TEAM 60%
UK
40% MEN
WOMEN
4 3
UAE
2
Singapore
1
OUR BENCH
Malaysia
1
Combined experience spans more than 350 YEARS
Australia
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
Media Relations
Regular Events: Quarterly Lecture Series and Annual Legal Gala Dinner
Annual Report
An actively managed website
News Alerts
eREGISTRY 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
*409 individual lawyers
*145 law firms
Courtroom The state-of-the-art courtroom communications equipment plays a key role in supporting the increasing international caseload in 2017. Parties are able to contribute to hearings via video conference or have access to their cases online.
DEVELOPING EMIRATI TALENT
KEY HIGHLIGHTS •Feb 2017: Launch of DIFC Courts “Commentaries on the DIFC Laws” •Mar 2017: Cooperation agreement signed between the Federal Court of Malaysia and DIFC Courts •Mar 2017: Appointment of leading Singaporean judge, Justice Judith Prakash to DIFC
50%
Courts bench
50% of the DIFC Courts team are UAE nationals
•May 2017: MoU with Abu Dhabi Judicial Department •Jun 2017: Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah endorses DIFC Courts’ General Counsel Forum •Jun 2017: DRA and Microsoft agree MoU to create commercial court of the future
*Figures updated as of June 2017
2
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 jurisdiction). Proceedings in the CFI are heard by one Judge.
Total value of claims filed
Settlement rate in the CFI
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
AED
CFI (Including Arbitration)
97% of visitors said they were happy with the services provided by DIFC Courts
83%
7.5
settlement rate
BILLION
2017
* Full year figure for 2016
JAN. - JUNE
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:
Number of claims filed
88% 79
CASES
of SCT cases are resolved in less than 4 weeks after successful service
150
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 be heard by the SCT, such election can be made in the underlying contract (if any) or subsequently.
Total value of claims filed AED
or
• The claim relates to the employment or former employment of a party and the amount or value of the claim exceeds 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;
• The amount or value of the claim does not exceed AED 500,000;
13.9
MILLION
CASES
$
2017
JAN. - JUNE 2016 JAN. - JUNE
54%
SCT
INCREASE
(H1 2016 - H1 2017)
2017 JAN. - JUNE
*Settlement rate updated at the end of each financial year. This figure has been taken from full year 2016. The figure for 2017 will be updated in the Factsheet Full Year 2017
3
ENFORCEMENT Total value of claims filed
RUSSIA UNITED KINGDOM
AED
*USA BAHRAIN
1.4
UAE
BILLION
SINGAPORE Foreign Judgments enforced by DIFC Courts
AUSTRALIA
DIFC Courts Judgments enforced by Foreign Jurisdictions
2017 JAN. - JUNE
*2017 saw the first enforcement order from the US to DIFC Courts
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.
Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan & DIFC Courts
Shanghai High people’s court
The Republic of Kazakhstan (2009) LEBANON SYRIA
TUNISIA
PALESTINE JORDAN
MOROCCO ALGERIA LIBYA
MAURITANIA
IRAQ KUWAIT
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY)
BAHRAIN QATAR SAUDI ARABIA
COURTS The Tunisian The Arab Republic Republic The Riyadh The GCC (1975) of Egypt Convention Convention (2000) (1983) (1996)
OMAN
MAURITANIA SUDAN
The Republic Commercial of China Court of England The ParisMalaysia The National (2004) and Wales Convention Court Administration of (1992) Ras Al Khaimah the Supreme Court of Korea & the DIFC Courts DIFC
YEMEN DJIBOUTI SOMALIA
The High Court of Kenya (Commercial and Admiralty Division)
Malaysia The Supreme Court of Singapore
The Federal Court of The New South Australia Wales Supreme Court
THE RIYADH CONVENTION (1983)
TREATIES
THE GCC CONVENTION (1996)
MEMORANDUM OF GUIDANCE/ MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
PRO BONO PROGRAMME 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.
*50 volunteer firms *Figures updated as of June 2017
*148 individual lawyers
THE PRO BONO CLINIC INITIATIVE Over 632 attendees from the UAE Legal Gala community gathered at the 2016 Legal Gala to support the DRA Academy of Law Pro Bono Programme in 2016. This year’s Legal Gala Dinner will take place on 2 November at the JW Marriot Marquis Dubai. For booking, contact legal.gala@draacademy.ae
23 Clinics
44 Clinics
24 Clinics
179 individuals served
248 individuals served
*352 individuals served
2015
Full Year
2016
Full Year
2017
Half Year 4