« Back to Glossary IndexJurisdiction
Jurisdiction refers to the legal authority of a court or regulatory body to hear and decide a case. In the UAE, jurisdiction is divided between onshore (civil law courts) and offshore (common law courts in DIFC and ADGM), depending on the nature of the dispute. Federal Law No. 11 of 1992 on Civil Procedures establishes the hierarchy of UAE courts, including First Instance Courts, Appeals Courts, and the Court of Cassation (Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi or Dubai). Businesses operating in the UAE must carefully select contractual jurisdiction clauses, as disputes may fall under UAE courts, arbitration centers (DIAC, ADGM Arbitration Centre, ICC UAE), or international jurisdictions.
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