The Dubai Worldwide Monetary Centre (DIFC) Courts immediately reported statistics for the primary six months of 2025. Declare numbers grew 38 % year-on-year as events sought swift, unbiased justice in home and worldwide industrial and civil disputes.
From January-June 2025, 650 claims have been filed throughout all Courtroom divisions, with a complete common declare worth of AED13.2 million. The primary Courtroom of First Occasion (CFI) and its specialised divisions recorded 61 claims, with a median declare of AED117.7 million and a complete of AED6.7 billion.
The regular enhance in claims demonstrates the Courts’ standing because the jurisdiction of alternative for delivering environment friendly and dependable judicial companies to each company and particular person customers and underpins Dubai’s standing as a world enterprise hub.
Wayne Martin, Chief Justice at DIFC Courts, mentioned, “The primary half of 2025 displays a sustained sample of development, significantly in opt-in issues and higher-value claims. These developments reinforce the DIFC Courts’ place as a trusted discussion board for resolving advanced industrial disputes, supported by skilled judges, and worldwide enforceability.”
He added that the brand new DIFC Courts Legislation, launched 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.
Over the primary half of 2025, the Civil & Industrial Division (CCD) recorded an 85 % year-on-year development in claims (from 33 to 61), with a complete declare worth of AED2.3 billion.
Sturdy demand for the Courts’ Arbitration Division (ARB) continued as 23 claims have been registered, a rise of 92 % year-on-year, with a mixed worth of AED4.5 billion.
The Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) handled 458 claims (a 73 % year-on-year enhance), representing an AED43.2 million complete declare worth and a median declare worth of AED95,000.
The will increase in caseload within the industrial and arbitration divisions and the Small Claims Tribunal have been offset to some extent by a lower in enforcement circumstances, in order that complete new circumstances elevated by 38 % to 650, as in comparison with 470 within the corresponding interval final 12 months.
The statistics additionally spotlight robust uptake of ‘opt-in’ claims, with events outdoors the DIFC jurisdiction contractually choosing the DIFC Courts to resolve their disputes. Within the Courtroom of First Occasion, 38 % of claims have been opt-in; 39 % within the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT); and 18 % within the Arbitration Division (ARB).
The DIFC Courts Wills Service additionally recorded elevated exercise. Within the first six months of 2025, 922 Wills have been registered – a 14 % enhance in comparison with the identical interval in 2024 – and 27 Probate Orders have been issued. Since its inception, the service has registered over 13,400 Wills, providing a safe mechanism for non-Muslim residents and buyers to plan their estates within the UAE.
The Courts’ Professional Bono Programme additionally assisted greater than 524 people, supported by 39 volunteer companies, and 51 volunteer attorneys. The DIFC Courts’ Professional Bono Programme is the first-of-its-kind within the Center East and was carried out in 2009.
Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director, DIFC Courts, mentioned, “This era has seen continued uptake throughout all our companies, from civil and industrial 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 regulation industrial court docket for over 20 years, our continued development is a testomony to our mission to adapt, innovate, and broaden entry to justice via our core and ancillary court docket service choices to the general public.”
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