Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) · DIFC Court of First Instance
DIFC Court of First Instance — United Arab Emirates
Format requirements for this court
| Court and track | DIFC Court of First Instance |
|---|---|
| Paper | A4 |
| Margins | 2.5 cm · 2.5 cm · 2.5 cm · 2.5 cm |
| Type | Times New Roman, 12 pt |
| Line spacing | 1.5 |
| Paragraph numbering | {n}. |
Twelve point type, black on white, single-sided, with no handwritten corrections in the body of the document.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
DIFC Court of First Instance
A claim is commenced in English by a claim form accompanied by particulars of claim, both on A4 paper with 2.5 cm margins, 12 point type and numbered paragraphs. The particulars set out the parties, the dated facts, the documents relied on and the relief sought, and are verified by a statement of truth. The claim form and particulars are filed through the DIFC Courts eRegistry and served on the other side with a copy for each defendant.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- DIFC Courts Rules of Court (DIFC Court Rules), Part 3 on commencing proceedings and on the form of documents, including verification by a statement of truth
- DIFC Courts forms and practice directions: Claim Form, Particulars of Claim, Statement of Truth and the index of attachments
- DIFC Courts guidance for litigants, including the 'Representing yourself' pages and the eRegistry user guidance
DIFC Courts Small Claims Tribunal (SCT)
The SCT procedure is informal and is used without a legal representative. The claimant files the SCT claim form in English, sets out the dated facts and the amount claimed, attaches the documents relied on, and signs the statement of truth. Hearings are short and the parties usually speak for themselves, so the document set is kept to numbered paragraphs with an attachment index.
USD 500,000 — The Small Claims Tribunal hears claims up to USD 500,000. The ceiling is set by the SCT Rules and is confirmed by the SCT Registry when the claim is registered; a claim above it belongs in the Court of First Instance.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- DIFC Courts Small Claims Tribunal Rules (SCT Rules), including the Small Claims Tribunal claim form and the USD 500,000 limit on its jurisdiction
- DIFC Courts guidance for litigants, including the 'Representing yourself' pages and the eRegistry user guidance
- DIFC Courts forms and practice directions: Claim Form, Particulars of Claim, Statement of Truth and the index of attachments
Filing checklist - what to bring, in how many copies, and why documents get returned.
- The claim form, completed in English with the court or tribunal, the parties and the amount claimed.
Claim Form (DIFC Courts Rules of Court)
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Particulars of claim setting out the parties, the dated facts, the documents relied on and the relief sought, in numbered paragraphs.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- A statement of truth at the end of the particulars, signed and dated by hand by the party or its authorised representative; the signature space is left blank in the prepared document.
Statement of Truth (DIFC Courts Rules of Court)
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Every document in English, and a translation with the translator's certificate for any document written in another language.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- A4 paper, 2.5 cm margins on all four sides, 12 point type, numbered paragraphs starting at 1.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- One copy of the claim form and particulars for each defendant, plus one copy for the court file.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The documents relied on, numbered continuously from 1 and listed in the index of attachments.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The court fee for the value of the claim, paid when the claim is submitted through the eRegistry.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- In the Small Claims Tribunal, the SCT claim form instead of the full claim form, with the amount claimed stated and the documents attached.
SCT Claim Form (Small Claims Tribunal Rules)
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- In the Small Claims Tribunal the parties usually attend in person; the claim form records the address for service at which the other side is notified.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Registration of the claim through the DIFC Courts eRegistry, with the claim number it returns entered in the heading afterwards.
DIFC Courts eRegistry
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
Why filings get sent back
- Documents are filed in a language other than English without a translation, although the language of the DIFC Courts is English, and the Registry returns them.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The particulars of claim are not verified by a statement of truth signed by the party or its authorised representative, so the document is not accepted for filing.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The claim form is filed without particulars of claim, so the claim is not properly commenced and the defendant cannot answer it.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The claim form or the statement of truth is unsigned.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The amount claimed is above USD 500,000, so the claim does not fall within the Small Claims Tribunal and is transferred to the Court of First Instance.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- No copy of the claim form and particulars for each defendant is filed, so service cannot be effected by the Registry.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- Attachments are not numbered continuously or the index of attachments does not match the pages filed.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- The court fee is not paid when the claim is submitted, so the claim is not issued until the fee is settled.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
The language you read here and the language of the documents are set separately.
Document language: English. This is set by the court, not by the language you are reading now.
- English (Required)
The language of the DIFC Courts is English, so the claim form, the particulars of claim and the statement of truth are produced in English. A document written in another language is filed with a translation, and the translation carries the translator's certificate.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
Disclosure: what this document set is and what it does not cover
This set was assembled by a document preparation tool that organises the facts you supplied and aligns the page format to the filing requirements published for the court named on the cover. It is a format-and-fact organisation aid. It does not give legal advice, it does not create an advisory relationship, it does not replace a licensed lawyer, and no lawyer has reviewed your documents. No opinion is offered on the strength of any position or on which rule applies to your facts. You remain responsible for the contents of everything you file, for meeting every deadline set by the Rules of Court and by any order of the Court, and for taking advice from a licensed lawyer about your situation. Every format rule in this set is listed with its source so that you can check it yourself.
I have read this disclosure and I understand that this set is a format-and-fact organisation aid, that it is not legal advice, that no lawyer has reviewed my documents, and that the documents are filed in English because English is the language of the DIFC Courts.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
Confirm you understand: citations are not verified
The system does not check whether a citation is real. You are responsible for checking each one in the official database: DIFC Laws directory (difc.com) and the DIFC Courts rules and judgments database (difccourts.ae).
DIFC Laws directory (difc.com) and the DIFC Courts rules and judgments database (difccourts.ae)
Check each citation yourself in the DIFC Laws directory and in the DIFC Courts rules and judgments database: confirm that the instrument exists, that the provision you cite is in force, and that no later amendment or decision has changed it.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
Every format rule is listed with its source so you can check it yourself.
- DIFC Courts Rules of Court (DIFC Court Rules), Part 3 on commencing proceedings and on the form of documents, including verification by a statement of truth
- DIFC Courts Small Claims Tribunal Rules (SCT Rules), including the Small Claims Tribunal claim form and the USD 500,000 limit on its jurisdiction
- DIFC Courts forms and practice directions: Claim Form, Particulars of Claim, Statement of Truth and the index of attachments
- DIFC Courts guidance for litigants, including the 'Representing yourself' pages and the eRegistry user guidance
- DIFC Courts fee schedule for claims and applications
- DIFC Laws directory: DIFC Law No. 12 of 2004 (DIFC Court Law) and DIFC Law No. 10 of 2004 (Judicial Authority Law), as amended