DIFC Courts reinforces Dubai’s position as a global dispute resolution hub at Dubai Arbitration Week 2026

Detailed summary

Arbitration Division records AED 3.2 billion in claims during H1 2026, underscoring the Courts’ role in supporting international commercial dispute resolution Dubai, United Arab…

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts reinforced their role in supporting Dubai’s position as a leading international dispute resolution hub during Dubai Arbitration Week 2026, hosting a high-level panel exploring how arbitration, mediation and judicial proceedings can work together to resolve complex cross-border commercial disputes.

Titled “The Evolving Relationship Between Arbitration, Mediation and the Courts: Strategic Pathways to Resolution”, the session brought together judges, legal practitioners, and corporate clients. The discussion focused on assessing how integrated dispute resolution mechanisms can deliver more efficient, commercially viable, and enforceable outcomes as corporate users increasingly look beyond treating arbitration, mediation and litigation as standalone processes.

The panel featured H.E. Wayne Martin, Chief Justice, DIFC Courts, alongside Rozana ALTayyar, Founder and Managing Director, Taswea; Noradèle Radjai, Partner, LALIVE, and Rima Hadid, General Counsel, Emirates Investment Authority. The session was moderated by H.E. Justice Michael Black, Court of Appeal Judge and Judge in Charge of the Digital Economy Court, DIFC Courts.

For arbitration practitioners, general counsel, and disputes specialists, the question is no longer whether mediation has a place in complex commercial disputes, but rather when to deploy it, how it should interact with arbitral proceedings, and what role courts should play in supporting effective resolution. Discussions centred on deploying mediation before and during arbitration, the role of courts and tribunals in supporting settlement, and practical strategies for structuring enforceable cross-border agreements.

His Excellency Wayne Martin, Chief Justice, DIFC Courts, said: “The continued activity of the DIFC Courts’ Arbitration Division reflects the important role of judicial oversight in supporting effective arbitration proceedings.

His Excellency Justice Omar Al…

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