Court Law DIFC Law No. 10 of 2004

Contents................................................................................................................................................................... 1

PART 1: GENERAL........................................................................................................................................................ 1

1. Title ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1

2. Legislative authority ............................................................................................................................................ 1

3. Date of enactment ............................................................................................................................................... 1

4. Commencement.................................................................................................................................................... 1

5. Interpretation....................................................................................................................................................... 1

PART 2: PURPOSE........................................................................................................................................................ 1

6. Purpose of the Law .............................................................................................................................................. 1

PART 3: CONSTITUTION OF THE DIFC COURT.................................................................................................................. 2

7. The DIFC Court....................................................................................................................................................... 2

8. Judges of the DIFC Court...................................................................................................................................... 2

9. Appointment of Judges......................................................................................................................................... 2

10. Removal of Judges of the DIFC Court.................................................................................................................. 3

11. Resignation of Judges of the DIFC Court............................................................................................................ 3

12. Remuneration of Judges..................................................................................................................................... 3

13. Court Proceedings.............................................................................................................................................. 3

PART 4: MANAGEMENT OF THE DIFC COURT.................................................................................................................. 4

14. Administrative Procedures ................................................................................................................................ 4

15. Seal of Court....................................................................................................................................................... 4

16. The Registrar and Deputy Registrars of the DIFC Court ..................................................................................... 4

17. Powers and duties of the Registrar and Deputy Registrars of the DIFC Court.................................................... 4

18. Appointment of Assessors................................................................................................................................. 6

PART 5: JURISDICTION OF THE DIFC COURT................................................................................................................... 7

CHAPTER 1 –JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE ................................................................................... 7

19. Jurisdiction......................................................................................................................................................... 7

20. Making of Orders and issuing of Writs ............................................................................................................... 7

21. Restitution, disgorgement and damages........................................................................................................... 8

22. Judicial Review and Injunctions......................................................................................................................... 8

23. Decisions relating to fines................................................................................................................................. 8

24. Ratification of Judgments ................................................................................................................................. 8

25. Receivers and Provisional Liquidators............................................................................................................... 9

CHAPTER 2 –JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF APPEAL................................................................................................ 9

26. Appeals............................................................................................................................................................... 9

27. References............................................................................................. ...........................................................10

CHAPTER 3 – ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS ........................................................... .......................................................10

28. Appeals from DIFC Tribunals......................................................................... ....................................................10

CHAPTER 4 – COMPOSITION OF THE DIFC COURT........................................................................................................ 10

29. Composition of the DIFC Court for any matter ......................................... .........................................................10

PART 6: MATTERS RELATING TO JURISDICTION........................................................................................................... 12

CHAPTER 1 – APPLICATION OF DIFC LAW................................................................................................................... 12

30. Governing Law................................................................................................................................................... 12

PART 7 - GENERAL.................................................................................................................................................... 13

CHAPTER 1 - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE ................................................................................................................. 13

31. The Rules of Court............................................................................................................................................ 13

32. Powers......................................................................................... .....................................................................13

33. Stay of proceedings and suspension of orders................................................................................................ 14

34. Witnesses and documents............................................................................................................................... 14

35. Orders for the examination of witnesses....................................................................... ...................................14

36. Change of venue............................................................................................................................................... 14

37. Judgments................................................................................................... .....................................................15

38. Limitation on proceedings........................................................................ ........................................................15

39. Interest on judgment ........................................................................................ ...............................................15

40. Recovery of monies.......................................................................................................................................... 15

41. Issue of orders and processes......................................................................................................................... 15

42. Enforcement of DIFC Court Orders..................................................................................................................... 15

43. Contempt of Court............................................................................................................................................. 15

44. Technical Defects ............................................................................................... .............................................16

45. Costs ........................................................................................................ ........................................................16

46. Security of Costs............................................................................................................................................... 16

47. Undertakings....................................................................................... ..............................................................16

48. Oaths and affirmations..................................................................................................................................... 17

49. Swearing of DIFC Court documents......................................................... ..........................................................17

CHAPTER 2 - EVIDENCE................................................................... .........................................................................17

50. Application of Evidence.................................................................................................................................... 17

51. Oral, video link, telephone and affidavit evidence........................................................................................... 17

52. Evidence on appeal .............................................................................. ...........................................................18

53. Prohibition of publication of evidence ............................................................. ...............................................18

PART 8: ARBITRATION ............................................................................................................................................... 19

54. Referral to an Arbitrator ................................................................................................................................... 19

55. Registration of Awards.................................................................................. ...................................................19

PART 9: FUNDING AND REPORTS................................................................................................................................ 20

56. Funding and Fees............................................................................................................................................. 20

57. The annual funding of the DIFC Court..................................................... ..........................................................20

58. Accounts........................................................................................................................................................... 20

59. Annual report.................................................................................... ................................................................20

PART 10: MISCELLANEOUS......................................................................................................................................... 22

60. Official Language......................................................................................... .....................................................22

61. Immunity ...................................................................................................... ....................................................22

SCHEDULE................................................................................................................................................................ 23