Overall case value jumps 181%
The Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) Courts have reported a massive uptick in both volume of cases and value of claims.
From January through the end of June, the courts tallied a total of 386 cases across all divisions, a year-on-year increase of 64%. Claims value, including arbitration-related cases, also increased to AED2.2bn, up 181% compared to the first half of 2017.
The increase in volume and value of cases is a reflection of the DIFC Courts being a jurisdiction of choice in the Middle East region and beyond, said Amna Al Owais, DIFC Courts chief executive and registrar.
“The increase in enforcement applications also highlights our ability to assist businesses through a robust national, regional and international enforcement network. We are particularly proud of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT), which is proving a vital mechanism for the region’s SME community to access justice,” she said.
“Our performance so far this year is testament to the maturity of the DIFC Courts which, after over a decade of operations, continues to offer businesses access to a robust and efficient suite of dispute resolution services,” Al Owais said.
DIFC Courts said that its main Courts of First Instance Division saw a 29% year-on-year increase in caseload in the first half. It also said that there was a significant increase in the number of enforcement cases it handled in the period, showing the confidence of businesses in DIFC Courts’ ability to collect on money judgments.
Enforcement claims value totalled AED2.1bn in the first six months of the year, up 53% from AED1.4bn in the first six months of 2017. The jump in value mirrors an increase in volume, with enforcement claims totalling 87 in the period, which increased from 39 in the same period last year.
