Opt-in cases accounted for 30% of 810 cases filed with DIFC Courts in H1 2026.
Dubai: Parties from the UAE and 22 overseas jurisdictions spanning five continents chose to use the DIFC Courts during the first half of 2026. A total of 243 opt-in cases were filed during the period, accounting for 30 per cent of the 810 cases registered across all divisions.
Of the 243 opt-in cases, 201 were filed before the Small Claims Tribunal, while the remaining 42 were registered across the Court of First Instance, Arbitration Division and Digital Economy Court.
The DIFC Courts allow parties involved in qualifying civil and commercial disputes to opt into their jurisdiction through a written agreement. This includes businesses based elsewhere in the UAE as well as international parties, with no mandatory connection to the UAE required.
Overseas parties feature in nearly half of CFI claims
The Court of First Instance received 30 opt-in claims during the six-month period, with 47 per cent involving at least one party based outside the UAE.
The cases involved parties from 13 overseas jurisdictions, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, India, Germany, Switzerland, the United States and Australia. Some claims involved no UAE-based parties at all.
“For businesses operating across borders, the ability to agree a clear and reliable forum for resolving commercial disputes is an important part of doing business with confidence. The H1 figures show that UAE-based and international users are selecting the DIFC Courts for that purpose, including in matters with no UAE-based party. By delivering accessible, digitally enabled and independent commercial justice, we contribute to the confidence businesses need when trading internationally. This confidence supports the ambitions of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 by reinforcing Dubai’s position as a trusted destination for investment, trade and international business.”
— Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director of the DIFC Courts
Overseas arbitration hubs also feature
The Arbitration Division recorded 11 opt-in cases during the first half of the year, eight of which were linked to arbitrations seated overseas in major hubs including Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Paris and Stockholm.
In these proceedings, the parties opted into the DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction for matters connected to their overseas arbitrations.
The Digital Economy Court recorded one opt-in claim involving parties from the United Kingdom, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, El Salvador and Vietnam.
Choosing the DIFC Courts does not change the governing law of a contract, allowing parties to remain free to agree which law will apply to their agreement.
