Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in the UAE

Dispute resolution work in the UAE

The firm covers UAE matters in cooperation with an announced partner office in the United Arab Emirates. That partner office is not a branch owned by the firm, and the firm does not itself hold a UAE law practice license; local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter in the Emirates. Within that framework, we coordinate pre-litigation assessment, negotiation, arbitration support and litigation strategy for UAE-connected disputes; filings and court appearances in the Emirates are handled by locally licensed counsel through the partner office.

Courts and litigation in the UAE

The court structure differs by emirate: a federal judiciary serves most emirates, while Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah operate their own local judiciaries with civil and commercial circuits. The DIFC Courts and the ADGM Courts are separate English-language common-law courts serving the two financial free zones, and each has its own procedural framework.

Arbitration in the UAE

Onshore arbitration is governed by Federal Law No. 6 of 2018 concerning arbitration, which follows the UNCITRAL Model Law. In Dubai, Decree No. 34 of 2021 reconstituted the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) as the principal arbitral institution, and the DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022 apply to new cases. The financial free zones apply their own regimes: the DIFC Arbitration Law (DIFC Law No. 1 of 2008) and the ADGM Arbitration Regulations 2015. The UAE is a contracting state to the 1958 New York Convention.

Before a dispute is filed

We start from the record: the signed contracts, notices, invoices and correspondence, and the jurisdiction or arbitration clause - including any DIFC or ADGM seat - that will control where the case is heard. From that base we assess the claims and enforcement prospects and run negotiation where a settlement serves the client better than a judgment. For related contract work see our General Commercial & Corporate practice and Corporate & Commercial Law in the UAE; to scope a specific dispute, contact our team.

MENA coordination

The firm was founded in Kuwait in 1986 and has a branch in Cairo. It covers MENA matters in cooperation with partner offices in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, and partner offices in Turkey and the United States. Those partner offices are not branches owned by the firm; local licensing and advice are assessed in the relevant jurisdiction.

This page is general information, not advice for a particular entity or transaction.

Frequently asked questions

Which law governs arbitration in the UAE?

Onshore arbitration is governed by Federal Law No. 6 of 2018, which follows the UNCITRAL Model Law. The financial free zones apply their own regimes: the DIFC Arbitration Law (DIFC Law No. 1 of 2008) and the ADGM Arbitration Regulations 2015.

What happened to the DIFC-LCIA arbitration centre?

Dubai Decree No. 34 of 2021 reconstituted the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) as the principal arbitral institution in Dubai and abolished the DIFC Arbitration Institute; the DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022 apply to new cases.

Does the firm have an office in the UAE?

The firm covers UAE matters in cooperation with an announced partner office in the United Arab Emirates. That partner office is not a branch owned by the firm, and the firm does not itself hold a UAE law practice license; local licensing and representation are assessed for each matter.

Other markets

Corporate & Commercial Law in the UAE · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Egypt · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Saudi Arabia · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Qatar · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Oman · Dispute Resolution & Arbitration in Bahrain