We are pleased to announce that Dr. Hassan Elhais has been awarded Legal Consultant of the Year in the United Arab Emirates by Leaders in Law for 2026.
It gives us immense pleasure to announce that Dr. Hassan Elhais, Legal consultant has been awarded the Best Legal Consultant of the year 2025 in Dubai, by Corporate INTL.
We would like to proudly announce that Dr. Hassan Elhais, one of our leading legal consultants, has been declared as the Global Awards' ‘Legal consultant of the Year’ 2024/2025 United Arab Emirates by Leaders in Law.
We are honoured to share that Dr Hassan Elhais has been recognized as a leading author in the Lexology Legal Influencers Q2 2023 for Private Client - Asia-Pacific.
Our team is proud to announce that, one our leading legal consultants, Dr. Hassan Elhais has been awarded the prestigious Legal 100 Asia Award for the ‘Best Legal Consultant of the Year, Litigation -2021’.
Our team is immensely proud to announce and congratulate our distinguished Legal Consultant, Dr. Hassan Elhais for receiving the ‘Corporate America Today Annual Award’ for the 'Best Legal Consultant for the year 2020'.
Dubai offers world - class arbitration, through DIAC, and
the DIFC - but choosing and navigating the right regime, takes specialist knowledge.
DIFC and DIAC arbitration in Dubai, refers to proceedings, under the Dubai International
Arbitration Centre, and within the Dubai International Financial Centre, the emirate's two
principal arbitration pathways. Each has its own rules, and supervisory courts. An experienced
DIFC & DIAC Arbitration Lawyer in Dubai, helps you choose, and navigate the right forum.
DIAC is the Dubai International Arbitration Centre, the emirate’s leading arbitral institution,
and the DIFC is a financial free zone with its own common-law arbitration law and supervisory
courts.
DIAC administers arbitrations under the DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022 and pursuant to Decree No. 34
of 2021, any reference to the former DIFC-LCIA is deemed to be a reference to DIAC. DIFC
arbitrations are subject to the DIFC Arbitration Law No. 1 of 2008 and DIFC Courts, and onshore
DIAC arbitrations are governed by the Federal Law No. 6 of 2018 as amended.
Choosing between the regimes has real consequences. According to Dr. Hassan Elhais, Senior Legal
Consultant, the seat and supervisory court determine, which courts support, and review the
arbitration, which is a key strategic decision
DIAC arbitration under the 2022 Rules
DIFC-seated arbitration under the DIFC regime
Choice of seat and supervisory court
The right regime depends on your contract and objectives.
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How We Help With DIFC & DIAC Arbitration in Dubai
These matters come in many forms and all of them are handled by a DIFC & DIAC Arbitration Lawyer
in Dubai.
DIAC Arbitration
Arbitrating under DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022.
DIFC-Seated Arbitration
Arbitrations seated in the DIFC under the DIFC common law regime and courts.
Choosing the Right Forum
Advising on the optimal seat, rules, and supervisory court for your dispute.
DIFC Court Support & Supervision
Seeking interim relief, enforcement and assistance from the DIFC Courts.
The DIFC / DIAC Arbitration Process in Dubai – Step by Step
Arbitration under DIAC, or the DIFC follows, a structured, regime-specific process.
DIFC & DIAC Arbitration in Dubai
Step 1: Forum and Strategy
We assess:
The arbitration agreement, and seat
DIAC vs. DIFC considerations
The applicable rules, and courts
Your objectives
Step 2: Commencement
We handle:
The request for the arbitration
Tribunal constitution
Procedural framework
Step 3: Proceedings
We conduct:
Written submissions, and the evidence
Hearings before the tribunal
Interim relief, where needed
Step 4: Award & Enforcement
We pursue:
The final award
Supervisory court support
Enforcement of the award
Each regime has its own advantages. Your DIFC & DIAC Arbitration Lawyer in Dubai, ensures you
are in the right forum, and well represented.
Cost Discussion Framework
Legal fees depend, on the regime, and case. Factors include:
Value, and the complexity of the dispute
Whether DIAC, or DIFC-seated
Number of arbitrators
Volume of evidence, and hearings
Enforcement requirements
During your consultation, we provide a transparent fee structure, tailored to your dispute.
Addressing Common Client Concerns
What is the difference between DIAC and the DIFC?
DIAC is an arbitral institution which administers arbitrations. The DIFC is a free zone
with its own common law arbitration law and courts.
What happened to the DIFC-LCIA?
Any reference to the former DIFC-LCIA shall, with effect from Decree No. 34 of 2021, be
deemed to be a reference to DIAC.
Which courts supervise the arbitration?
The supervisory court is dependent on the seat – the DIFC Courts for DIFC-seated
arbitrations and the onshore courts for onshore DIAC arbitrations.
Which regime should I choose?
The best forum depends on your contract, the parties, your objectives, etc. It needs to
be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Confidentiality is strictly maintained at all times.
Why Choose Dr. Hassan Elhais & Our DIFC & DIAC Arbitration Lawyer in Dubai
Dr. Hassan Elhais, is a Senior Legal Consultant, licensed to practice, before the DIFC Courts,
with extensive experience, across Dubai's arbitration regimes.
Experience in the DIAC, and DIFC - seated arbitration
Multilingual legal team
Representation for the corporate, and the international clients
Strict confidential handling
Strategic, regime-specific approach
We operate in strict compliance, with the UAE, DIAC, and DIFC arbitration frameworks.
Trust & Compliance
We provide professional, ethical representation in accordance with UAE law. Our advice is
tailored to your dispute, communicated transparently, and free of misleading guarantees. All
consultations are strictly confidential.
Take Immediate Action
Choosing, and navigating the right arbitration regime is a decisive early step. Experienced
guidance, helps you select the optimal forum, and protect your position.
DIFC arbitration takes place under the common law arbitration framework of the Dubai
International Financial Centre and is supervised by the DIFC Courts.
Yes. The parties may agree, to select the DIFC, as the legal seat of arbitration, in
their arbitration agreement, regardless of where the contract is performed, subject
to the applicable legal framework, and the wording of the arbitration clause.
Yes. Arbitral awards issued by the DIAC, or in the DIFC are generally admissible,
and enforceable in the UAE, if they satisfy the conditions of the applicable
arbitration law, and the court procedures.
Dr. Hassan Elhais, is a professional legal consultant in Dubai, with extensive
experience advising the businesses, and individuals in DIAC, and DIFC arbitration
proceedings. He advises clients on arbitration clause drafting, choice of
arbitration forum, representation of parties in arbitration proceedings, and
enforcement of arbitral awards, in accordance with UAE law.
