The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts has launched two new ancillary services — a Mediation Service Centre and a Notary Service — aimed at expanding access to justice and strengthening Dubai’s position as a global business hub.
The announcement follows the issuance of Dubai Law No. (2) of 2025 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The law laid the legislative foundation for the new services, with an accompanying resolution issued by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the DIFC, formally establishing the new entities.
The Mediation Service Centre, to be based at the DIFC Courts, will provide an alternative dispute resolution mechanism where parties can resolve cases amicably under the guidance of registered mediators. The parties involved will have the flexibility to choose their mediators, negotiate fees, and agree terms in advance. Mediation sessions can be held either online through the upgraded AI-enabled Court Management System or in-person at the DIFC Courts’ premises.
His Excellency Wayne Martin, Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts, said the new centre would “widen the suite of services, broadening access to justice, as well as providing greater flexibility for businesses and individuals seeking efficient, cost-effective solutions”.
In parallel, the DIFC Courts have also introduced a Notary Service, described as the first of its kind in the UAE to operate within an English common law framework. The service will be available to both individuals and businesses, and authorises Notary Officers to administer, witness, and attest oaths, affidavits, affirmations or declarations. They will also be able to certify true copies of documents.
The notary service will cover English-language documents only and offer three modes of delivery: an automated self-service platform, a live virtual system, and in-person appointments. An optional authentication service will also be available through DataFlow’s primary source verification (PSV).
To ensure security, notarised documents will be issued with an electronic or physical stamp and seal. Advanced cryptographic methods and Hedera Blockchain technology will log notarisation events with timestamps, providing tamper-proof verification. According to officials, the system will convert documents into verifiable credentials in compliance with ERC20 standards, while preserving user privacy through encryption and privacy-preserving protocols.
His Excellency Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director of the DIFC Courts, said the new services reinforced Dubai’s reputation as a centre for international business. “The establishment of the Mediation Service Centre and the Notary Service serves to support our role by complementing federal and local strategic goals,” he said. “As Dubai and the DIFC continue to lead in trade, investment and governance, our objective at the Courts is to advance transparent, efficient, and future-ready judicial and legal solutions to meet the evolving needs of the region’s economy.”
Established in 2004, the DIFC Courts function as Dubai’s international English-language common law judicial system. They were created to enhance confidence in the Emirate’s legal framework and to underpin its ambitions as a leading global centre for trade and investment.
