DIFC Courts arbitration division processes 37 disputes worth AED 3.2bn in H1 2026
Average case value reached AED 126.8 million, exceeding half the total value registered for the full year 2025.
DIFC Courts arbitration division registered 37 commercial disputes valued at AED 3.2 billion in the first half of 2026, according to figures disclosed during Dubai Arbitration Week 2026. The average value per case reached AED 126.8 million. The H1 2026 total represents more than half the full-year 2025 value of AED 4.95 billion registered with the division.
Case Volume and Value Comparison#
The arbitration division, established in 2020, processed 37 cases in the six months to June 2026. The H1 2026 aggregate of AED 3.2 billion compares with AED 4.95 billion for the twelve months of 2025. The division was set up to streamline procedures and expedite decisions on interim measures and judicial orders. DIFC Courts disclosed the figures at a session titled "The Evolving Relationship Between Arbitration, Mediation and Courts: Strategic Pathways for Dispute Resolution" held during Dubai Arbitration Week 2026.
Integration of Dispute Resolution Mechanisms#
The session addressed the integration of arbitration, mediation and litigation for cross-border commercial disputes. Participants included Justice Wayne Martin, Chief Justice of DIFC Courts; Rosanna Al Tayer, founder and managing partner of Taswiyah; Nouradel Radjay, partner at Lalive; and Rima Hadid, general counsel at Emirates Investment Authority. Justice Michael Black, judge of the Court of Appeal and supervising judge of the Digital Economy Court at DIFC Courts, moderated the session. The discussion covered the use of mediation before and during arbitration proceedings, the role of courts and arbitral tribunals in supporting settlements, and practical strategies for drafting enforceable cross-border agreements.
Mediation Services and Enforcement Framework#
DIFC Courts operates a Mediation Services Centre offering confidential mediation in person or online. Settlement agreements reached through mediation may be enforced through DIFC Courts under applicable legal procedures. The centre was established to provide parties with multiple integrated pathways for resolving commercial disputes. Justice Omar Al Muhairi, registrar of DIFC Courts, stated that the integrated dispute resolution system supports the competitiveness of the global business environment and contributes to the objectives of Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the emirate's digital transformation direction.
Dubai Arbitration Week Session#
Dubai Arbitration Week was launched in 2011. The 2026 edition hosted sessions on the relationship between arbitration, mediation and court proceedings, focusing on efficiency, commercial viability and enforceability of dispute resolution outcomes. The event brought together judges, legal practitioners and corporate representatives to discuss the evolving landscape of cross-border dispute resolution.
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- albayan.aeAl BayanDIFC Courts arbitration division registered 37 disputes valued at AED 3.2 billion in H1 2026, with average case value of AED 126.8 million, compared with AED 4.95 billion for full year 2025
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