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DIAC Institutional Arbitration — ABR Advocates
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Arbitration

DIAC Institutional Arbitration

The Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) is the region’s principal arbitral institution and now a primary venue for complex commercial disputes connected to the UAE. Following Decree No. 34 of 2021, DIAC absorbed the former DIFC-LCIA, consolidating Dubai’s institutional arbitration under one roof. We provide end-to-end management of DIAC proceedings — from the request for arbitration to the final award.

How a DIAC arbitration runs

DIAC administers cases under its own modern rules, covering commencement, the constitution of the tribunal, procedural timetables, hearings (in person or virtual) and the issue of the award. Institutional administration brings structure, supervision of arbitrator appointments and a scrutiny of process that many commercial parties value — particularly against unfamiliar counterparties.

How we help

Commencing or responding — preparing the request for arbitration or the answer, and securing the right tribunal.

Conducting the reference — written submissions, document production, witness and expert evidence, and advocacy at hearings.

Costs and efficiency — managing the procedural levers (bifurcation, timetabling, early determination where available) that control time and cost.

Post-award steps — moving directly into ratification and enforcement, or defending the award against challenge.

Common questions

DIAC Institutional Arbitration FAQs

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Legacy DIFC-LCIA clauses are generally administered by DIAC following the 2021 consolidation. We advise on how your specific clause operates and, where you are negotiating new contracts, we update the wording.
The seat is set by the parties’ agreement or determined under the rules; it may be onshore Dubai, the DIFC or elsewhere. The choice affects the supervising court and enforcement route — a point we address early.
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