Dubai’s DIFC Courts launches specialised court for the digital economy

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts has launched a new specialised court for the ‘digital economy’, which will focus on settling complex civil and commercial disputes related within the tech space.

The new court will deal with national and international disputes related to current and emerging technologies covering big data, blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence, cloud services, unmanned aerial vehicles, 3D printing technologies and robotics, a statement said.

The DIFC Courts is in the process of appointing “eminent judicial experts” to operate and supervise the digital infrastructure and advanced service capabilities of the specialised Court.

In early 2022, a group of international lawyers and industry experts will be assigned to draft and approve new rules for the court, which will then be issued after a 30-day public consultation campaign, the statement said.

The new court aims to start providing services in the first quarter of 2022.

“The infrastructure of our courts in Dubai will keep pace with our future economic aspirations,” said Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and president of the DIFC.

He also said the the launch of the new court gives an impetus to develop a new judicial support system capable of meeting the requirements of the digital transformation process and adoption of up-to-date technologies.

“The goal of the judicial system and Courts in Dubai is to deliver prompt justice in a country where the law prevails,” he added.

The new court will complement existing specialised divisions at the DIFC Courts, including the Technology and Construction Division and the Arbitration Division, launched to meet the increasing demand for judicial expertise in cases related to specific sectors.

Justice Omar Al Mheiri, director of DIFC Courts, said: “The potential of the UAE’s judicial systems to support and protect the continuity of business projects will prove to be extremely vital to the country’s long-term goals of attracting and retaining foreign investment.

“We will utilise the most advanced technologies to increase the efficiency of the system and ensure that the public will benefit from its services. This court is the first of its kind in the world offering new and exciting innovations that will provide the best avenues to access justice, not only for companies operating in the UAE but for international companies seeking a fair jurisdiction,” he added.

DIFC Courts is Dubai’s international English language common law judicial system and its jurisdiction extends beyond the financial centre for international businesses. Any two parties from any global location can use DIFC Courts as a neutral global jurisdiction.

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