DIFC Courts record 25% rise in H1 2026 cases and Dh10.02bn in claims
DIFC Courts report a 25% rise in H1 2026 caseload and Dh10.02bn in claims, driven by party choice of jurisdiction, arbitration growth and digital procedures.
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts reported a 25% year‑on‑year increase in cases for the first half of 2026, confirming the jurisdiction handled 810 matters between January and June. The DIFC Courts said the total value of claims reached Dh10.02 billion, a 48% rise on the same period in 2025, with an average daily claim value of roughly Dh55 million. The figures come as the courts publish their first half‑yearly results following the launch of a five‑year strategy in December 2025.
Caseload and claim values at a glance
The courts recorded 810 filings in H1 2026, up from the same period last year, with claim values concentrated in a relatively small number of high‑value matters. The overall Dh10.02 billion in claims reflects both an increase in the number of filings and a rise in the average size of disputes. The courts reported a suite of digital orders and judgments issued during the period, supporting case management for complex commercial litigation.
Party choice of DIFC jurisdiction remains strong
Approximately one in every three cases filed in the DIFC Courts — 243 of the 810 matters — resulted from parties’ express agreement to submit their dispute to the DIFC jurisdiction. That voluntary selection accounted for 42% of claims brought before the Court of First Instance, underscoring the courts’ role as a preferred forum for commercial disputes. Court officials said the pattern signals continued confidence by international and regional parties in DIFC procedural rules and judicial expertise.
Arbitration filings and related proceedings rise sharply
The DIFC Courts’ arbitration division logged 37 arbitration‑related claims in the half, an increase of 61% year‑on‑year, with a combined value of Dh3.17 billion. The growth highlights the courts’ role in supervising arbitration procedures and managing challenges tied to alternative dispute resolution. Officials noted that parties continue to use the courts both as an arbitration venue of choice and as a supervisory forum for enforcement and interim relief.
Specialised divisions record higher average claims
The Court of First Instance and its specialised divisions filed 110 claims in H1 2026, up from 86 in the corresponding period of 2025 — a 28% rise. The total value of claims before these divisions reached Dh9.02 billion, producing an average claim size of Dh117.2 million. The main division of the Court of First Instance alone handled 72 claims and saw the average claim value more than double to Dh112.6 million, reflecting an uptick in high‑value, complex commercial litigation.
Small Claims Court and electronic access to justice
The DIFC Small Claims Court handled 479 claims in the first half of 2026, a 5% increase year‑on‑year, with an aggregate value of Dh44.7 million and an average claim size of Dh94,000. The courts continued to operate a predominantly electronic model, with 99% of litigation procedures conducted online — 818 out of 824 actions processed digitally. During the period the DIFC Courts also issued 1,766 digital orders and judgments, enabling parties to progress matters without attending physical hearings in most cases.
Enforcement activity and supportive services expand
Execution requests more than doubled, rising to 220 in H1 2026 from 106 a year earlier, and included eight requests to enforce orders and judgments originating outside the DIFC Courts. Auxiliary services also expanded: the wills service recorded 1,925 new wills in the period, taking the total registered since launch to over 14,300. The legal practitioners’ register listed 1,351 lawyers from 256 law firms, and the free legal assistance programme provided support to 315 individuals with help from 55 volunteer lawyers across 39 firms.
The courts described the half‑year results as evidence of a jurisdiction chosen by parties rather than imposed on them, and framed the numbers as validation of their five‑year strategy to boost international confidence and widen digital access to justice. Senior DIFC Courts leadership highlighted the need for a well‑resourced judiciary with experience in high‑value commercial disputes to handle the complexity reflected in the statistics.
These results are likely to influence how businesses and counsel evaluate dispute forum selection in the coming months, as the DIFC Courts continue to position themselves as a technology‑enabled, internationally oriented judicial centre for the region’s commercial disputes.