DIFC Courts launches GCC’s first smart Small Claims Tribunal with support of Alpha Data

DIFC Courts has collaborated with Alpha Data, one of the UAE’s leading systems integrators, to launch the GCC’s first smart Small Claims Tribunal. The pioneering ‘smart’ court is a turnkey project built on Microsoft infrastructure and works by providing both parties in dispute, as well as the judge, access to the case from remote locations on smartphones and computers.
The newly introduced smart court is fully equipped with video conferencing technology that enables individuals or small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in hearings from anywhere in the world.
Commenting on the launch, Amna Sultan Al Owais, Chief Operating Officer at DIFC Courts said: “The ‘smart court’ initiative is a major step towards DIFC Courts’ vision of becoming the world’s leading and most innovative commercial court by 2021, in addition to supporting Dubai’s bid to transform into a smart city. This development will also greatly increase confidence in Dubai as a progressive and world class centre for business.”
According to the current court procedures, the parties in dispute along with a judge have to be present at Small Claims Tribunal (SCT) during hearings. Via the new technology, however, all parties concerned, such as business owners who travel extensively; tenants who have departed from the UAE; and employees both in and out of Dubai with contract issues, can resolve their disputes by remotely attending their consultations and hearings.   
“Successfully overcoming the limitations of geographical boundaries, the GCC’s first ‘smart court’ has effectively strengthened DIFC Courts’ position as the region’s most innovative commercial court. Alpha Data has a key role to play in this significant development. Our collaboration involved the reconfiguration of the court room on a completely scalable technology platform in line with the Dispute Resolution Authority’s (DRA) roadmap and their compliance requirements. We supervised the entire migration process required of such reconfiguration – a process we completed in a short span of time without any impact to users. Going forward, we look forward to many more similar successful partnerships in which we can provide technological support for path-breaking initiatives,” concluded Murugesan Vaithilingam, Services Director at Alpha Data.
DIFC Courts created the GCC’s first Small Claims Tribunal in 2007, which has grown popular among the UAE’s SME sector. While it handles cases with a limit of up to AED 500,000, there is no ceiling on employment cases, provided parties agree to opt in. In the first half of 2016, the total value of claims increased from AED 7 million to AED 9 million year-on-year, indicating that claimants are responding to the new higher threshold for case values.
Alpha Data is the UAE’s leading system integrator with a proven track record of over 30 years. It supports a wide range of customers across the country with its broad portfolio of Managed and Professional Services. Alpha Data maintains partnerships with many of the world’s leading technology providers, including HP, Cisco, Citrix, Microsoft, Belden, Autodesk and Adobe, to name a few.
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About the DIFC Courts
The UAE’s DIFC Courts administer a unique English-language common law system – offering swift, independent justice to settle local and international commercial or civil disputes. The Courts, based in Dubai, provide certainty through transparent, enforceable judgments from internationally-recognized judges, who adhere to the highest global legal standards. The DIFC Courts are independent from, but complementary to, the UAE’s Arabic-language civil law system – offering a choice that strengthens both processes while ensuring public access to world-class justice.
In October 2011, a decree of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, opened the DIFC Courts’ jurisdiction to businesses from all across the GCC region and beyond to provide the international business community with access to one of the most advanced commercial courts in the world.
The DIFC Courts were established under laws enacted by the late HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai in September 2004.  The laws establishing the DIFC Courts are designed to ensure that the DIFC Courts provide the certainty, flexibility and efficiency expected by Court users. Nearly 500 cases have been resolved through the DIFC Courts since 2008, while over 90% of Small Claims Tribunal cases are concluded within three weeks. The Courts’ community-focused approach encourages early settlement, while their successful track record supports Dubai’s growing status as an international business hub.
In line with HH Sheikh Mohammed’s vision, the DIFC Courts serve to develop the UAE national workforce and enhance the competitiveness of Emirati advocates. The DIFC Courts are spearheading training programmes predominantly aimed at local Emirati lawyers, which offer knowledge of, and qualifications in, the English-language common law system.