The Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre (DIFC) Courts recorded 650 claims throughout all divisions from January to June 2025, representing a 38 per cent enhance in comparison with 470 claims throughout the identical interval in 2024.
The overall declare worth reached AED 13.2 million on common, with the Courtroom of First Occasion and its divisions dealing with 61 claims value AED 117.7 million every and totalling AED 6.7 billion.
Wayne Martin, Chief Justice, DIFC Courts, mentioned: “The primary half of 2025 displays a sustained sample of progress, significantly in opt-in issues and higher-value claims. These developments reinforce the DIFC Courts’ place as a trusted discussion board for resolving complicated business disputes, supported by skilled judges, and worldwide enforceability. The new DIFC Courts Law, introduced in early 2025, represents a forward-looking step by the Authorities of Dubai permitting the DIFC Courts to additional streamline procedures and improve judicial apply, reinforcing our place as a premier discussion board for dispute decision nicely into the longer term.”
Surge in claims throughout divisions
The Civil & Industrial Division skilled 85 per cent progress year-on-year, rising from 33 to 61 claims with a mixed worth of AED 2.3 billion. Every declare averaged AED 51.3 million.
The Arbitration Division registered 23 claims, marking a 92 per cent enhance from the earlier 12 months. These circumstances carried a complete worth of AED 4.5 billion, with a median declare worth of AED 342.6 million.
The Small Claims Tribunal processed 458 claims, a 73 per cent rise year-on-year, representing AED 43.2 million in whole worth and averaging AED 95,000 per declare.
Enforcement circumstances decreased, dealing with 106 claims value AED 4.5 million in whole, with a median worth of AED 1.5 million per case.
Events outdoors the DIFC jurisdiction more and more select the courts by contractual agreements.
The Courtroom of First Occasion noticed 38 per cent of claims by opt-in preparations, while the Small Claims Tribunal recorded 39 per cent and the Arbitration Division 18 per cent.
Claims coated banking and finance, retail, manufacturing, cryptocurrency, and actual property sectors. Instances ranged from cross-border disputes to employment contract issues.
New legislation streamlines DIFC authorized processes
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, issued Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025 in March.
The laws formalises the DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction over civil, business, and labour claims while consolidating Dubai Regulation No. 10 of 2004 and DIFC Regulation No. 12 of 2004 into one statute.
The legislation clarifies jurisdiction over civil, business, employment issues, non-Muslim wills, trusts, and enforcement of arbitral awards. It introduces provisions for employment claims, interim measures, and mediation dispute decision.
The DIFC Courts Wills Service registered 922 wills through the first six months of 2025, a 14 per cent enhance from 2024. The service issued 27 Probate Orders and has registered over 13,400 wills since inception.
The Professional Bono Programme assisted 524 people with help from 39 volunteer corporations and 51 volunteer legal professionals.
Launched in 2009 as the primary programme of its variety within the Center East, it gives authorized entry for these with monetary constraints.
Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director, DIFC Courts, added: “This era has seen continued uptake throughout all our companies, from civil and business claims to ancillary companies. The constant enhance in customers selecting to deliver their disputes to the DIFC Courts is a robust reflection of the worth positioned on our authorized framework by companies and people alike. Serving because the area’s main frequent legislation business court docket for over 20 years, our continued progress is a testomony to our mission to adapt, innovate, and increase entry to justice by our core and ancillary court docket service choices to the general public.”
The DIFC Courts publish quarterly statistical updates on their web site to take care of transparency. The entire H1 2025 report is obtainable at statistics.difccourts.ae.