This paper examines the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts' evolving role in the enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards, both within and outside the UAE. The DIFC Courts have become instrumental in enforcing foreign judgments through their “conduit jurisdiction”, which allows recognition and enforcement of judgments and awards without any geographic link to the DIFC. By leveraging bilateral and multilateral treaties, the DIFC Courts facilitate the onward execution of foreign judgments, positioning themselves as a critical gateway for global enforcement.

This paper is the second of a seven-part series on DIFC litigation and global enforcement & recovery, in the run up to the Dubai Arbitration Week 2024. To find out more, please register for the panel discussion on the litigation framework in the DIFC and its implications for global enforcement and recovery strategies on 11 November 2024, the opening day of the Dubai Arbitration Week 2024.

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