The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts launched a range of new digital public services at GITEX Global 2024, highlighting their commitment to integrating emerging technologies with legal services. One of the key announcements was the Digital Assets Will, which allows individuals to allocate digital assets like ETH, BTC, and USDC using a non-custodial DIFC Courts wallet. This will also enable users to manage these assets during their lifetime and distribute them posthumously as specific gifts. Future updates are set to include support for NFTs using standards such as ERC 721 and Hedera Token Service (HTS).
In addition to this, the DIFC Courts revealed a Notary Service focused on notarizing English documents. This service will offer automated, virtual, and in-person notarization, utilizing Hedera Blockchain technology to ensure document authenticity and integrity. Verified documents will be logged on the blockchain, and distributed ledger technology (DLT) will convert them into NFTs for added security.
Another key service is the Mediation Service Centre, offering alternative dispute resolution with upgraded AI-enabled platforms. Users can negotiate disputes with the help of certified mediators, either virtually or in person, making the process more flexible.
The new services align with Dubai’s D33 Economic Agenda and the Dubai Digital Strategy, aiming to enhance public access to justice and promote the city as a global legal innovation hub. The launch also received support from the Hashgraph Association and Deca4 Advisory, which contributed to building the DLT architecture.
The DIFC Courts are continuing to prioritize advancements in public services by ensuring access to justice through secure, cutting-edge digital platforms and infrastructure. These new services represent the DIFC's ongoing mission to integrate legal services with technology, fostering both local and global trust in Dubai’s legal system.
