The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts have announced the launch of a new suite of support services, which includes a Mediation Services Centre and a Notarization Service.
This advancement follows the enactment of Law No. 2 of 2025 in March by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which established the legislative framework for these services.
In line with the mentioned law, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, in his capacity as the Chair of the DIFC, issued a decision outlining the operational framework and officially establishing the Mediation Services Centre and Notarization Service under the authority of the DIFC Courts.
The Mediation Services Centre will be set up at the DIFC Courts as a facilitative route for resolving disputes through alternative amicable methods, allowing parties to address conflicts with the help of accredited mediators.
Parties will have the flexibility to select mediators and agree on fees and terms in advance, with options available for conducting mediation sessions either online via an AI-supported case management system or in person at the courts’ premises.
Effective Solutions
Judge Wayne Martin, Head of the DIFC Courts, stated: “The DIFC Courts continue to lead in providing advanced judicial and legal services, working closely with Dubai’s leadership and our partners in both the public and private sectors. The introduction of the Mediation Services Centre and Notarization Service will expand our range of services, enhance access to justice, and offer greater flexibility for businesses and individuals seeking effective and cost-efficient solutions.”
Alongside the establishment of the Mediation Services Centre, the DIFC Courts are expanding their services through the launch of the Notarization Service, a practical support service that enables court notaries to authenticate and witness declarations, affidavits, and execute certified copies for individuals and companies. This service will focus exclusively on notarizing English-language documents and is the first of its kind in the UAE.
Three Options
The service offers users three options: an automated self-service, a direct virtual service, and an in-person service. Users can also take advantage of verification through the primary source verification system, provided by “DataFlow.”
Each document will receive an electronic or paper seal and signature, with notarization conducted using advanced encryption techniques based on “Hydra Blockchain,” where the notarization event will be recorded along with a timestamp on the blockchain.
Building Trust
Judge Omar Al Mehiri, Director of the DIFC Courts, remarked: “The solutions provided by the Courts are specifically designed to foster trust, clarity, and certainty within the first common law judicial system in the region, ensuring prosperity and accessibility for businesses. The establishment of the Mediation Services Centre and Notarization Service reinforces our role in supporting both federal and local strategic goals and contributes to building additional confidence between growing local companies, investors, and the international business community. As Dubai and the DIFC continue to lead in trade, investment, and governance, our aim within the courts is to develop transparent, effective, and future-ready judicial and legal solutions to meet the evolving needs of the region’s economy.”
Furthermore, notarized documents will be securely preserved using distributed ledger technology from “Hedar,” converting documents into verifiable credentials in compliance with Ethereum 20 standards while maintaining user privacy through advanced encryption protocols that safeguard sensitive information throughout the process.
The DIFC Courts were established in 2004 to serve as the English-speaking international judicial system in Dubai and are a fundamental pillar of the judicial framework in the UAE. They were also created to instill greater confidence within the international community in the emirate’s legal framework and to enhance investment and trade relations with Dubai and the UAE.