Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts has launched a Mediation Service Centre and a Notary Service as new ancillary offerings.
The Mediation Service Centre is designed as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism. It allows parties to use DIFC Courts‑registered mediators and conduct sessions either online or in person. It supports both enforceable and non-enforceable settlements and is accessible globally via electronic means.
Mediation and notary services
The Notary Service authorises DIFC Courts’ Notary Officers to administer oaths, affidavits, affirmations, declarations, and to certify true copies. It applies only to English‑language documents and is the first such DIFC offering in the UAE. Users may choose between automated self‑service, live virtual, or in‑person channels; primary source verification is provided through DataFlow. Each transaction is recorded on Hedera’s distributed ledger, ensuring tamper‑proof timestamps.
Dubai Law No 2 of 2025 not only provides the legal framework for these services but also revises the DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction, powers and administrative framework. It codifies the ability to find interim relief in support of external arbitration or litigation.
It clarifies the Court’s enforcement writ mechanism, allowing settlement agreements approved by the Mediation Centre to be enforced as writs. The law came into force in March 2025, replacing prior statutes from 2004.
The new services are part of the DIFC Courts’ broader push to enhance dispute resolution and legal infrastructure, alongside other recent reforms, such as the appointment of international judges in 2024.
These services were enabled by Dubai Law No 2 of 2025, issued by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which came into force in mid-March 2025. The services were formally established by Resolution No 1 (Notary) and Resolution No 2 (Mediation) issued by HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in his capacity as President of the DIFC.
