Prime Highlights
- DIFC Courts and The Mediation Hub MENA have signed an agreement to widen mediation access for businesses, SMEs and individuals across the UAE.
- The collaboration will deliver joint training programs and explore a community mediation scheme for smaller businesses and eligible individuals.
Key Facts
- The partnership operates through the DIFC Courts Mediation Service Centre, established under Law No. (2) of 2025.
- DIFC Courts launched a five-year Growth Strategy (2026-2030) to expand services and strengthen its role as a global commercial justice hub.
Background
The Dubai International Financial Centre Courts and The Mediation Hub MENA have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to expand mediation as a practical, accessible way to resolve disputes across the UAE business community.
The agreement runs through the DIFC Courts Mediation Service Centre, giving businesses, SMEs and eligible individuals broader access to mediation alongside the Courts’ existing litigation and judicial services.
Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director of the DIFC Courts, said the collaboration supports the Courts’ five-year Growth Strategy, which focuses on widening access and delivering greater value for court users.
He said mediation gives parties an added route to resolve disputes confidentially while preserving the Courts’ role in delivering binding judicial decisions when needed. He added that the partnership strengthens mediation capabilities and supports access to justice and business confidence across Dubai.
Under the agreement, the DIFC Courts Mediation Service Centre and The Mediation Hub MENA will jointly design training programs, awareness sessions and capacity building initiatives for legal professionals and DIFC-registered entities.
The two organizations will also explore a proposed community mediation scheme aimed at supporting smaller businesses and individuals seeking confidential, settlement-focused dispute resolution.
Christine Maksoud, Founding Member and Executive Director of The Mediation Hub MENA, said the partnership allows the organization to expand its mission of building a culture of mediation across the MENA region, while equipping mediators with deeper expertise.
The DIFC Courts Mediation Service Centre, established under Law No. (2) of 2025, forms part of the Courts’ wider multi-door courthouse model and remains available to businesses and individuals across the UAE and internationally.
