The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts has expanded their ancillary offerings with the introduction of a Mediation Service Centre and a Notary Service.

This move comes after the enactment of Dubai Law No. (2) in March 2025, which provides the legislative foundation for these services.

The Mediation Service Centre, based at the DIFC Courts, offers an alternative dispute resolution pathway, enabling parties to amicably settle disputes with the assistance of registered mediators.

The service allows for the pre-agreement of mediators’ fees and terms and offers the flexibility of conducting mediation in-person at the DIFC premises or online through an ‘AI- enabled Court Management System’.

Meanwhile, the Notary Service enables notary officers to administer and attest various legal documents for business and individuals, exclusively in English.

It is available as automated self-service, a live virtual system, and as in-person service, with the added benefit of an authentication service via DataFlow’s primary source verification.

The Notary Service will ensure the integrity of notarised documents by using Hedera Blockchain’s distributed ledger technology, DIFC said in a press statement.  

Documents are converted into verifiable credentials, in line with ERC20 standards, and user privacy is safeguarded through encryption and privacy-preserving protocols.

DIFC Courts Chief Justice Wayne Martin said: “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.”

Established in 2004, the DIFC Courts has been providing an English language common law judicial system within Dubai.