DIFC COURTS VS. DUBAI COURTS: Resolving the Jurisdictional Divide in the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards

The Emirate of Dubai operates two legally distinct court systems: the onshore Dubai Courts, constituted under UAE federal and local law, and the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (“DIFC Courts”), which administer a common-law framework…

DIFC Courts Confirm no DIFC Nexus is Required for Recognition of Foreign Arbitral Awards

In a further affirmation of the DIFC Courts’ pro-arbitration stance, the Court of First Instance in Om v. Ottilie  (ARB 017/2025, judgment dated 28 October 2025) has confirmed that domicile, business activity, or the presence…