The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts have released key statistics regarding the current caseload, highlighting the ongoing growth in their activity and the increasing tendency to resort to them for dispute resolution.

The courts have maintained their leading position in civil and commercial dispute settlement, thanks to their efficient judicial services for businesses and individuals.

Moreover, the courts are committed to transparency, regularly publishing statistics on a quarterly basis on their website to support the needs of legal professionals, businesses, and the public.

The ongoing confidence in the DIFC Courts is demonstrated by the volume of cases being processed, with a reported 114 cases filed in 2024, totaling 7.6 billion dirhams.

The average value of claims registered in the primary courts stands at 103.3 million dirhams.

There has been a notable increase in cases related to arbitration, which accounted for the highest value in 2024—totaling 6.8 billion dirhams, with an average of 356.1 million dirhams per case.

The civil and commercial division saw 82 cases in 2024, aggregating a total value of 854.1 million dirhams, with an average claim of 16.4 million dirhams per case.

Additionally, two claims were registered with the technology and construction division in 2024, amounting to 14.2 million dirhams in total, averaging 7.1 million dirhams per claim.

The arbitration division experienced sustained demand in 2024, particularly for interim measures and judicial orders, with 28 cases valued at a total of 6.8 billion dirhams and an average claim value of 356.1 million dirhams.

The Digital Economy Court recorded two cases in 2024, with a cumulative claim value of 10.2 million dirhams.

The cases filed across the primary court divisions covered a variety of sectors, including banking and finance, retail, manufacturing, cryptocurrency, and real estate, involving disputes related to contract violations, bankruptcy, arbitration agreements, and employment.

In 2024, the courts processed a total of 350 enforcement cases, reflecting an 8% year-on-year increase, reinforcing their reliability among businesses regarding enforceable judgments.

The overall number of cases presented across all divisions of the DIFC saw a 10% uptick.

According to the Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts, Judge Wayne Martin, the robust demand for fundamental dispute resolution services and additional offerings reflects client confidence after two decades of establishment, asserting its status as a preferred option.

He noted that in 2024, the Small Claims Tribunal recorded 592 cases, an increase of 13% compared to 2023. The predominant disputes presented involved contract violations, banking and finance issues, and employment cases.

The total value of claims recorded in 2024 in the Small Claims Tribunal was 57.9 million dirhams, marking an 11% increase from the previous year, with the average case value reaching 106,000 dirhams.

The DIFC Courts continued to advance their paperless strategy, having issued 1942 digital orders, 174 digital rulings, and conducted 99% of hearings through their digital platforms.

Judge Omar Al Mehairi, Director of the DIFC Courts, stated that individuals and companies in digital-driven communities are increasingly seeking easily accessible public services.

He emphasized the DIFC Courts' intention to expand the range of services offered to the public in 2024 to meet this growing demand, underlining the strong economic momentum resulting from the implementation of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and Dubai's digital strategy.

He added that 2024's mission involved launching innovative digital systems that are efficient and cost-effective to assist court users while enhancing judicial excellence through the modernization of case management systems and the development of judicial staff.

A significant increase in the registration of wills was notable in the supporting services provided by the DIFC Courts, with a remarkable 21% year-on-year growth in 2024, totaling 1822 wills registered.

The total number of requests for will validations in the previous year reached 30, representing a 7% increase over 2023.

The total number of registered law firms in 2024 reached 208, up 11.2% from 2023, while the total number of registered practitioners stood at 1072, marking a 19% annual increase.

The region's first volunteer legal service program continued its operations in 2024, assisting over 800 individuals through in-field consultation clinics supported by 39 registered law firms and 44 attorneys.