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The DIFC Courts reported a record caseload and claims value for the first half of 2026, with 810 cases filed and disputes totalling Dhs10.02 billion as the jurisdiction continued to attract complex commercial matters. These figures represent a 25 percent increase in cases and a 48 percent rise in claim value compared with the same period last year, according to statistics the courts released on July 13. The performance reflects growing confidence in the DIFC legal framework, coming six months after the launch of the courts’ five-year growth strategy that aligns with Dubai’s broader economic objectives.
Figures from the DIFC Courts show the Court of First Instance registered 110 claims while the Arbitration Division handled 37 cases that rose 61 percent year on year. The Small Claims Tribunal managed 479 matters, a 5 percent increase, with an average claim value of Dhs94,000. Parties chose to opt in to the DIFC jurisdiction in 243 cases, nearly one-third of the total, a development the courts highlighted as evidence of its appeal for cross-border disputes.
Enforcement activity more than doubled to 220 filings during the period, building on prior enforcement successes that have reinforced the finality of DIFC judgments, the DIFC Courts stated. Nearly 99 percent of all proceedings took place online, resulting in 1,766 orders and judgments issued through digital systems that have become central to court operations. The courts’ release noted that these efficiencies have reduced processing times while maintaining high standards of judicial oversight.
The DIFC Courts also registered 1,925 new wills in the first six months, contributing to a cumulative total that now exceeds 14,300 documents, according to the half-year statistics. A network of 1,351 registered practitioners from 256 firms supported the expanded workload, the courts reported. The pro bono initiative assisted 315 individuals through the efforts of 55 volunteers, extending access to justice for those otherwise unable to navigate commercial or family-related legal processes.
Justice Omar Al Mheiri said the statistics demonstrated the strength of a jurisdiction selected by agreement rather than assignment. “These are the figures of a jurisdiction chosen, not assigned. Nearly one in three cases arrived by the parties’ own agreement, with the average claim before our Court of First Instance more than doubling to Dhs112.6 million,” he stated in the release. He added that the results underscored greater international trust, stronger digital access and a court system aligned with the scale of Dubai’s economic ambition.
The first-half performance builds on full-year 2025 results in which the DIFC Courts managed 1,509 cases with total claims of Dhs18.6 billion, earlier DIFC Courts reports indicated. In the first quarter of 2026 the courts had already recorded 396 cases valued at Dhs3.5 billion, showing sustained momentum into the current year. These trends position the DIFC Courts as a key contributor to commercial certainty under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
