DIFC Courts' Arbitration Claims Reach AED 3.2 Billion in First Half of 2026

The Arbitration Division, set up in 2020, handles court proceedings linked to arbitration at the Dubai International Financial Centre, including fast decisions on interim measures and injunctions. The figures suggest more companies are using Dubai's common-law court to support arbitrations, even as regional conflict weighs on parts of the Gulf economy.

The court released the figures alongside a panel it hosted during Dubai Arbitration Week 2026 on how arbitration, mediation and the courts can work together on complex cross-border commercial disputes. The panel discussed when to use mediation before and during arbitration, the part courts and tribunals play in reaching settlements, and how to draft cross-border agreements that can be enforced.

"The continued activity of the DIFC Courts' Arbitration Division reflects the important role of judicial oversight in supporting effective arbitration proceedings," said Wayne Martin, the court's chief justice. He said the division and the court's Mediation Service Centre give parties "complementary pathways to resolving commercial disputes."

The Mediation Service Centre offers confidential mediation in person and online. Settlement agreements reached there can be enforced through the DIFC Courts under the applicable procedures.

Justice Omar Al Mheiri, the court's director, said the court's work supports "business confidence, investor certainty and cross-border commercial activity" and links it to the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.

Martin's fellow panellists were Rozana ALTayyar, founder and managing director of Taswea; Noradèle Radjai, a partner at LALIVE; and Rima Hadid, general counsel of the Emirates Investment Authority. Justice Michael Black, the Court of Appeal judge in charge of the DIFC's Digital Economy Court, moderated.