Latest articles
DAFFODIL v DAAN [2013] DIFC SCT 001 — Employment benefits and discrimination claims (30 December 2013)
The dispute arose following the resignation of the Claimant, Daffodil, who had been employed by the Defendant, Daan, for nearly three years. The core of the litigation involved a disagreement over the final settlement of employment dues, which prompted the Claimant to initiate proceedings in the…
REGISTRAR OF DIFC COURTS DEFINITION [2016] DIFC CAO 001 — Administrative expansion of judicial support roles (13 March 2016)
This administrative order formalizes the functional delegation of authority within the DIFC Courts by broadening the definition of "Registrar" to encompass the full hierarchy of judicial support officers.
DRA Order No. 1 of 2016 in respect of the DIFC Courts Mandatory Code of Conduct [2016] DIFC CAO 001 — formalizing the role of the Academy of Law in professional conduct oversight (22 March 2016)
This administrative order establishes the revised regulatory framework for professional conduct within the DIFC Courts, specifically delegating the intake and processing of conduct-related complaints to the Dispute Resolution Authority (DRA) Academy of Law.
CHIEF JUSTICE MICHAEL HWANG — DIFC Rules of Court Order No. 1 of 2014 — Procedural Reform and the Implementation of RDC 2014 (01 February 2015)
The Order issued by Chief Justice Michael Hwang serves as the formal instrument for the adoption of the Rules of the DIFC Courts 2014. This administrative action was necessitated by the evolving requirements of the DIFC’s judicial infrastructure, following extensive public consultation periods.
DIFC Order No. 1 of 2009 — The formal introduction of specialized arbitration and small claims procedures (31 May 2009)
The DIFC legal framework required a dedicated mechanism to handle the increasing complexity of arbitration-related litigation and the need for a streamlined, cost-effective forum for smaller commercial disputes.
RULER OF DUBAI v DIFC COURTS [2007] DIFC CAO 001 — Enactment of the Rules of the DIFC Courts (01 January 2007)
The primary objective of this Order was to provide a definitive, permanent procedural code for the DIFC Courts, replacing the ad-hoc interim measures that had governed the judiciary since its inception.
DIFC COURTS SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL ORDER NO. 1 OF 2021 — Consolidation of SCT procedural framework (20 April 2021)
Chief Justice Zaki Bin Azmi’s administrative order modernizes the Small Claims Tribunal framework by consolidating over a decade of disparate orders and establishing specialized sub-divisions for leasing and employment disputes.
Rules of Court Order No. 6 of 2017 — The formal establishment of the Technology and Construction Division (17 September 2017)
The order serves as the foundational instrument for the creation of a specialized judicial track within the DIFC Court system. By issuing this administrative directive, the Chief Justice sought to streamline the adjudication of disputes that require technical expertise, moving away from the general…
DIFC COURTS RULES OF COURT ORDER NO. 5 OF 2017 — Procedural overhaul of the appellate framework (25 May 2017)
The order was issued to resolve procedural ambiguities and modernize the appellate framework by introducing a new set of rules known as "Amended Part 44." This administrative action was necessitated by the need to clarify the transition between previous procedural requirements and the updated…
DIFC COURTS RULES OF COURT ORDER NO. 4 OF 2017 — Revocation of Part 44 Amendments (03 May 2017)
The issuance of this order was a direct administrative response to the unintended consequences or policy shifts introduced by the short-lived Rules of Court Order No. 2 of 2017. By revoking the prior order, the Chief Justice sought to maintain procedural stability within the DIFC Courts by…
DIFC Courts Rules of Court Order No. 2 of 2021 — Procedural overhaul of the Small Claims Tribunal (19 May 2021)
The issuance of this order was a strategic exercise of the Chief Justice’s regulatory powers to modernize the procedural framework governing the Small Claims Tribunal. By replacing the existing Part 53, the Court sought to refine the operational rules that dictate how smaller disputes are managed…
DIFC COURTS RULES OF COURT ORDER NO. 2 OF 2017 — Amending Part 44 of the Rules of the DIFC Courts (03 April 2017)
The order serves as a comprehensive legislative update to the appellate process, replacing the existing procedural architecture with a more structured approach to both the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance.
DIFC COURTS RULES OF COURT ORDER NO. 2 OF 2014 — Procedural Reform for Extra-Jurisdictional Evidence (01 February 2015)
The primary impetus for this reform was the practical inefficacy of the existing rules governing the taking of evidence abroad. Under the previous regime, the DIFC Courts relied on a structured system involving letters of request issued by the Registrar to foreign judicial authorities.
DIFC Courts Rules of Court Order No. 1 of 2017 — Amendments to Small Claims Tribunal representation (16 January 2017)
This administrative order formalizes the procedural requirements for legal and non-legal representation within the DIFC Small Claims Tribunal, emphasizing party self-representation while providing clear pathways for corporate and assisted advocacy.
DIFC Courts Rules of Court Order No. 1 of 2015 — Expansion of Small Claims Tribunal Jurisdiction (25 May 2015)
This administrative order fundamentally reshaped the procedural landscape of the DIFC Courts by significantly broadening the monetary and elective jurisdiction of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) to enhance access to justice.
DIFC COURTS v N/A [2019] DIFC DIV 5 — Establishment of the Small Claims Leasing Tribunal (18 November 2019)
Chief Justice Zaki Bin Azmi’s administrative order formalizing a specialized forum for the expedited resolution of residential and commercial rental disputes within the DIFC.
DIFC Courts Order No. 4 of 2021 — The formal establishment of the Digital Economy Court Division (27 January 2022)
DIFC Courts Order No. 4 of 2021 serves as the foundational instrument for the operationalization of the Digital Economy Court (DEC) Division. Following the initial announcement by the DIFC President on 14 December 2021, the Chief Justice exercised his administrative powers to ensure that the new…
DIFC COURTS ORDER NO. 3 OF 2021 — Appointment of additional Small Claims Tribunal members (27 September 2021)
This administrative order formalizes the expansion of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) bench, ensuring the continued operational capacity of the DIFC’s specialized forum for expedited dispute resolution.
DIFC COURTS v LEMA HATIM [2017] DIFC CAO 3 — Appointment of additional Small Claims Tribunal member (13 April 2017)
The primary purpose of this administrative order was to expand the judicial bench of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) by formally appointing Lema Hatim as an additional member. The SCT serves as a vital component of the DIFC judicial infrastructure, designed to facilitate the resolution of smaller…
DIFC COURTS v SMALL CLAIMS TRIBUNAL [2016] DIFC DIV 002 — Appointment of additional SCT member (16 September 2016)
The primary purpose of this administrative order was to expand the judicial bench of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) by formally appointing Ms. Mariam Deen as a member. The SCT serves as a specialized, streamlined forum within the DIFC Courts system, designed specifically for the prompt and…
CHIEF JUSTICE MICHAEL HWANG: DIFC COURTS ORDER NO. 2 OF 2014 — Resolution of Rental Disputes (04 May 2014)
The order establishes a clear financial demarcation for the resolution of rental disputes arising within the DIFC. By formalizing the competency of the DIFC Courts, the Chief Justice ensured that smaller-scale conflicts are diverted to the SCT, while more substantial matters are reserved for the…
DIFC COURTS v LEGAL PRACTITIONERS [2019] DIFC CAO 1 — Administrative regulation of rights of audience (22 May 2019)
The Order establishes a centralized regulatory mechanism for all legal professionals operating within the DIFC jurisdiction. It bifurcates the Register into two distinct categories: Part I, which is reserved exclusively for law firms, and Part II, which pertains to individual practitioners seeking…
DIFC COURTS v ADDITIONAL MEMBER [2018] DIFC CAO 1 — Administrative expansion of the Small Claims Tribunal (18 June 2018)
This administrative order formalizes the expansion of the Small Claims Tribunal’s judicial capacity through the appointment of Hayley Norton as an additional member.
CHIEF JUSTICE MICHAEL HWANG — DIFC Courts Order No. 1 of 2016 — Appointment of Additional SCT Members (19 April 2016)
The order serves as a formal administrative instrument to expand the judicial capacity of the Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) by appointing two specific individuals to serve as members. By doing so, the Chief Justice ensures that the SCT maintains the necessary resources to fulfill its mandate as a…