DIFC Courts Introduces New Mediation Service Centre And Notary Service To Support UAE Businesses

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts have introduced new services, including a Mediation Service Centre and a Notary Service. This initiative follows the issuance of Dubai Law No. (2) in March 2025 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which provides the legislative basis for these services. A resolution by H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum further details their implementation.

The Mediation Service Centre, located at the DIFC Courts, offers an alternative dispute resolution method. Here, parties can resolve conflicts amicably with mediators registered with the DIFC Courts. Participants can select mediators, agree on fees and terms beforehand, and choose between online or in-person mediation sessions using the upgraded AI-enabled Court Management System (CMS).

Wayne Martin, Chief Justice of DIFC Courts, stated, "The DIFC Courts continues to pioneer advanced court and legal services, in close cooperation with Dubai’s leadership, as well as our public and private sector partners. Both the DIFC Courts Mediation Service Centre and the Notary Service will widen the suite of services, broadening access to justice, as well as providing greater flexibility for business and individuals seeking efficient, cost-effective solutions."

Alongside mediation services, the DIFC Courts have launched a Notary Service. This service allows Notary Officers to administer oaths, witness affidavits, affirmations or declarations, and certify documents for businesses and individuals. The service is exclusive to English documents and offers three user options: automated self-service, live virtual system, or in-person service.

Justice Omar Al Mheiri highlighted that "The DIFC Courts’ solutions are purposefully designed to bring confidence, clarity, and certainty to the region’s first English common law system so that businesses can flourish." The establishment of these services aligns with federal and local strategic goals by enhancing trust among domestic businesses and international investors.

Advanced Technology Ensures Document Integrity

Notarised documents will be verified using Hedera Blockchain's cryptographic methods. Each document will receive an electronic or physical stamp and seal. The notarisation events will be logged on the blockchain with timestamps to ensure authenticity. Preservation of document integrity is achieved through Hedera’s distributed ledger technology (DLT), converting documents into verifiable credentials (VC) following ERC20 standards.

User privacy remains a priority throughout this process. Advanced encryption methods and privacy-preserving protocols ensure sensitive information is protected at all times during notarisation.

With inputs from WAM