Arbitration Law DIFC Law No. 1 of 2008

PART 1: GENERAL ..................................................................................................................... 1
1. Title.................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Legislative authority.......................................................................................................... 1
3. Application of the Law....................................................................................................... 1
4. Dates of enactment and commencement ......................................................................... 1
5. Repeal of legislation.......................................................................................................... 1
6. Interpretation .................................................................................................................... 1
PART 2: SCOPE OF APPLICATION ................................................................................................ 1
7. Scope of application of Law............................................................................................... 1
PART 3: ARBITRATION ............................................................................................................... 2
Chapter 1 – General provisions.............................................................................................. 2
8. Receipt of written communications................................................................................... 2
9. Waiver of right to object.................................................................................................... 2
10. Extent of court intervention............................................................................................ 2
11. Authority of the DIFC Court to perform functions of arbitration assistance and supervision............................................................................................................................. 2
Chapter 2 – Arbitration agreement ....................................................................................... 3
12. Definition and form of Arbitration Agreement ................................................................. 3
13. Arbitration agreement and substantive claim before Court............................................ 4
14. Confidentiality ............................................................................................................... 4
15. Arbitration Agreement and interim measures by Court.................................................. 4
Chapter 3 – Composition of Arbitral Tribunal........................................................................ 5
16. Number of arbitrators ..................................................................................................... 5
17. Appointment of arbitrators ............................................................................................. 5
18. Grounds for challenge .................................................................................................... 6
19. Challenge procedure ...................................................................................................... 7
20. Failure or impossibility to act.......................................................................................... 7
21. Appointment of substitute arbitrator............................................................................... 7
22. Liability of Arbitral Tribunal and others............................................................................ 8
Chapter 4 – Jurisdiction of Arbitral Tribunal.......................................................................... 8
23. Competence of Arbitral Tribunal to rule on its jurisdiction ............................................. 8
24. Power of Arbitral Tribunal to order interim measures ..................................................... 9
Chapter 5 – Conduct of arbitral proceedings ....................................................................... 11
25. Equal treatment of parties.............................................................................................. 11
26. Determination of rules of procedure............................................................................... 11
27. Seat of Arbitration .......................................................................................................... 11
28. Commencement of arbitral proceedings......................................................................... 11
29. Language ....................................................................................................................... 11
30. Statements of claim and defence ................................................................................. 12
31. Hearings and written proceedings ................................................................................ 12
32. Default of a party............................................................................................................ 12
33. Expert appointed by Arbitral Tribunal ............................................................................ 13
34. Court assistance in taking evidence.............................................................................. 14
Chapter 6 – Making of award and termination of proceedings......................................................................................................................... 14
35. Rules applicable to substance of dispute .................................................................... 14
36. Decision making by panel of arbitrators........................................................................ 14
37. Settlement...................................................................................................................... 15
38. Form and contents of award .......................................................................................... 15
39. Termination of proceedings............................................................................................ 16
40. Correction and interpretation of award; additional award ............................................ 17
Chapter 7 – Recourse against award ................................................................................. 18
41. Application for setting aside as exclusive recourse against arbitral award ................ 18
PART 4: THE RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF AWARDS.................................................... 19
42. Recognition and enforcement of Awards...................................................................... 19
43. Recognition................................................................................................................... 20
44. Grounds for refusing recognition or enforcement ....................................................... 20
SCHEDULE ........................................................................................................................... 22