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Business dealings in Dubai can run smoothly for years, yet disputes are part of commercial life. A contract may be breached, payment withheld, or a partnership come to an end. When that happens, the parties often have no choice but to take the issue before the courts.
Dubai is unusual in having two parallel systems that hear civil and commercial cases. The local courts follow UAE procedure, while the DIFC Courts operate independently with their own framework. Which forum you use shapes the process, from filing to judgment, and can influence timing, cost, and enforcement.
The sections below explain how cases are filed in each.
Jurisdiction and choice of court
When contracts are drafted in Dubai, one of the most practical points to settle is which court will hear disputes. If there’s no clause on jurisdiction, cases with a local link usually fall to the Dubai Courts. Proceedings there are in Arabic, they follow UAE civil procedure, and parties need certified translations of their documents.
The DIFC Courts give a very different route. They apply common law, conduct hearings in English, and have a reputation for handling cross-border cases. What makes them stand out is the opt-in clause. A single line in a contract can move future disputes into the DIFC system even if the dispute itself has nothing to do with the free zone. That’s why many contracts with foreign parties include it by default, especially if judgments need to be enforced abroad or complex finance issues are at stake.
Filing a case in Dubai Courts
Filing and registration
A case in the Dubai Courts begins with a detailed statement of claim that sets out the dispute, the legal basis, and the remedy being sought. It’s filed online through the court portal and the fee is paid at that stage. Fees are linked to the value of the claim but are capped at AED 40,000 for civil and commercial disputes. Once the claim is accepted, the court registers it and serves the defendant, usually by electronic notification though bailiffs are still used in some cases.
Hearings, judgment, and appeal
From there the file moves into case management, where a judge checks the pleadings and evidence before fixing hearing dates. Hearings themselves are brief, sometimes only a few minutes, because most submissions are handled in writing. Since proceedings are in Arabic, every contract or piece of evidence in another language has to be translated by a certified translator, and this is often where delay and extra cost arise.
Judgments in straightforward cases are often issued within a few months. Appeals must be filed within 30 days, first to the Court of Appeal and then, on points of law, to the Court of Cassation. Once a judgment is final it goes to the execution court, which has broad powers to enforce payment by freezing accounts or attaching assets.
Filing a case in DIFC Courts
Unlike the Dubai Courts, where every claim starts with a detailed statement in Arabic, the DIFC process begins with a simple claim form filed through the eRegistry and the fee paid at the same time. Once the case is accepted it’s assigned to a judge, who sets the timetable for how it will move forward. The system is designed to be fast and accessible, and in practice most filings are handled online without difficulty.
Procedure also feels different to the local courts. Judges hold case management conferences, timetables are fixed early, and disclosure of documents is broader. Hearings are often longer and more detailed, reflecting the common law style. Because everything is in English, parties avoid the cost and delay of translating contracts and witness statements, which is often a deciding factor for international businesses.
Appeals go to the DIFC Court of Appeal and in limited cases to the Court of Cassation. Judgments can be taken into the Dubai Courts for enforcement and are often easier to rely on abroad, so this route is frequently written into contracts where cross-border enforcement is expected.
Practical considerations when choosing where to file
When weighing the two court systems, the decision usually comes down to priorities rather than a single feature. For businesses trading mainly within the UAE, the Dubai Courts often provide a more direct route to enforcement, while for cross-border contracts the DIFC’s links to international recognition can be more persuasive.
The nature of the dispute also carries weight. Complex finance or shareholder issues are often better suited to the DIFC, where judges have international backgrounds and cases are managed in a common law style. By contrast, local trade disputes or straightforward debt claims tend to move more smoothly through the Dubai Courts.
Cost also plays a part. DIFC’s higher fees may be justified if the case is document-heavy, conducted in English, or likely to need recognition abroad. For claims centred on straightforward obligations or local dealings, the Dubai Courts tend to be the more practical option.