FACT SHEET FULL YEAR 2019
TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED
SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL
CFI (INCLUDING ARBITRATION)
TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED
3.1
68.7 MILLION
BILLION
4-6 WEEKS Average time for SCT cases to be resolved after successful service
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www.difccourts.ae
difccourts
@difccourts
difccourts
47
PRO BONO CLINICS
608 INDIVIDUALS SERVED
DIFC COURTS TEAM
63% WOMEN
JUDICIAL BENCH
37% MEN
Judges from five countries, including first female judge from Malaysia
UK
DEVELOPING EMIRATI TALENT
2 3
UAE
Singapore
37%
1
Malaysia
1
3 Australia
of the DIFC Courts team are UAE nationals
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
Annual Review
Actively Managed Website
News Alerts
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 2019 Law Firms
140
Individual Lawyers
810
WILLS SERVICE CENTRE
Courtroom
The state-of-the-art courtroom communications equipment plays a key role in supporting the increasing international caseloads in 2019. Parties are able to contribute to hearings via video conference or have access to their cases online, as well as use e-bundling.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS February 2019: DIFC Courts launches Special Complaints Referral Centre March 2019: Cooperation agreement with DLD to promote Wills Service
Total Wills registered
1,087
July 2019: DIFC Courts expands scope of wills services across the UAE September 2019: DIFC Courts forges alliance with Dubai SME October 2019: DIFC Courts and Emirates Auction sign cooperation agreement October 2019: Court Tech Lab launched by DIFC Courts and the Dubai Future Foundation November 2019: Ruler of Dubai appoints two new judges to the DIFC Courts
COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE (CFI) Total value of claims filed CFI (Including Arbitration)
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
AED 3.1
BILLION
95% of visitors said they were happy with the services provided by DIFC Courts
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, 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;
OR
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
4-6 WEEKS
average time for SCT cases to be resolved after successful service
399 CASES JAN-DEC 2018
585 CASES JAN-DEC 2019
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.
TOTAL VALUE OF CLAIMS FILED
68.7 MILLION
29% INCREASE
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:
2.6 BILLION
• 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 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)
Jordanian Ministry of Justice
The Paris Convention
The Riyadh Convention The Tunisian Republic The Arab Republic of Egypt
Ras al khaimah
Shanghai High People’s Court
The Republic of China (2004) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
Hangzhou Arbitration Commission
The National Court Administration of the Supreme Court of Korea
The GCC Convention High Court of Zambia 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)
PRO BONO PROGRAMME
The New South Wales Supreme Court
Treaties Memorandum of Guidance/Memorandum of Understanding
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.
Volunteer Firms
57
Individual Lawyers
167
47 clinics
608 individuals served