The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts have unveiled their new five-year growth strategy, coinciding with the annual judges’ meeting to evaluate court performance and define the next steps in service development.
This growth strategy is based on outcomes achieved in 2025, which highlighted the sustained demand for the services offered by the DIFC Courts, along with a rising preference for common law as a litigation framework in Dubai.
During the meeting, judges reviewed various service statistics from 2025, revealing that the total value of claims reached AED 18.6 billion, with the total number of cases filed across all divisions hitting 1,509, marking a yearly growth of 43%.
The average value of claims in the primary court was AED 68.2 million, while the Small Claims Court reported a 68% increase in cases filed.
Indicating a strong public trust, the primary court and its divisions recorded 173 cases, with a total claims value of AED 7.6 billion and an average claim value of AED 68.2 million per case. The Arbitration Division saw the highest total claims value for any single division in 2025, amounting to AED 4.95 billion, with an average of AED 150.2 million per case across 53 claims.
Additionally, the Civil and Commercial Division noted 117 claims in 2025, with a combined total of AED 2.6 billion, averaging AED 33.9 million per claim. Reinforcing the court’s record of reliability for businesses through enforceable judgments, 341 enforcement applications were submitted in 2025, totaling AED 10.9 billion.
These statistics also reflect the global stature of the DIFC Courts, as 31% of the cases filed in the primary court were voluntarily chosen by litigants to resolve their disputes at the DIFC.
Significant Increase
Judge Wayne Martyn, Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts, stated: “The 2025 statistics, thoroughly examined during the annual judges’ meeting, demonstrate sustained growth in the number of claims filed at the DIFC Courts, particularly in the primary court and its divisions.”
This growth has been supported by the passage of Law No. (2) of 2025, which strengthened the jurisdictional framework of the DIFC Courts and increased their capacity to respond effectively to rising demand.
In 2025, the Small Claims Court handled 995 claims, reflecting a 68% increase compared to 2024.
Highlighting the growing popularity of this court for dispute resolution, the total value of claims recorded in 2025 reached AED 83.1 million, a 44% increase compared to the same period in 2024, with an average claim value of AED 84,000.
The DIFC Courts continued to advance their strategy towards becoming “Paperless Courts” in 2025, issuing 2,676 orders and 181 court rulings digitally, with 99% of hearings conducted through their digital litigation platforms.
Judge Omar Al Muhairi, Director of the DIFC Courts, commented: “Throughout 2025, the DIFC Courts have continued to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of their services, which has been reflected in increased usage rates and growing demand for support services.”
These outcomes were reviewed during the annual judges’ meeting, showing a strong user engagement that included significant growth in will registrations, in line with the launch of the Mediation Services Centre and Notary Public services.
A notable trend in supporting services was the rise in will registration requests; the “Will Service” recorded 2,220 wills in 2025, an increase of 22% compared to 2024.
Moreover, 41 will validation applications related to the execution of wills were submitted, up 37% from 2024. The number of law firms registered with the DIFC Courts reached 235 in 2025, up 13%, while the number of registered practicing lawyers amounted to 1,224, reflecting a 14% annual increase.
The DIFC Courts have launched a new five-year growth strategy (2026 – 2030) aimed at reinforcing their role as a global hub for commercial justice, thereby supporting Dubai’s position as a leading international financial and business center.
This strategy encompasses six strategic pillars and over 20 initiatives, forming a comprehensive program of projects that will guide the development of the courts over the next five years.