According to the recently released 2023 annual report from Dubai Courts, the Special Court of Inheritance in Dubai settled inheritance cases worth over Dh4 billion last year. The Dubai Inheritance Court, which was established in September 2022, successfully resolved a total of 580 cases, comprising 512 Muslim estates, 38 non-Muslim estates, and 30 private estates. The total value of these settled inheritance cases amounted to Dh4,115,917,861. Dubai Courts reported a 92.6% success rate in inheritance settlements, exceeding the set target of 90%. The report emphasized the court's efficiency and success in managing asset distribution in accordance with legal wills and personal revenues. Necessary steps were taken to distribute properties and assets according to the deceased's will, and 19 additional files were prepared for private inheritance arrangements.
Inheritance settlement is a critical legal process aimed at ensuring the fair distribution of assets based on legal and Sharia principles. The report highlighted that relevant authorities in Dubai are continuously improving procedures to enhance efficiency and accuracy in managing these processes, leading to successful and equitable settlements that meet the needs of individuals and families. The average duration from case registration to judgment was 81 days, with an average of 52 days from the first hearing to judgment, and a 28-day average waiting time for the first hearing.
The report also noted an increase in the use of smart applications for handling various cases in 2023. A total of 872,414 online applications were processed across the courts. The Court of Appeals handled 32,005 smart applications, the Commercial Court of First Instance processed 51,132, and the Labour Court of First Instance processed 33,316. Last year also saw a significant number of cases resolved in civil and criminal courts at all levels. In civil courts, the Court of First Instance resolved 36,468 cases, the Court of Appeals completed 13,483 cases, and the Court of Cassation finalized 4,919 cases. Similarly, in criminal courts, the Court of First Instance completed 33,473 cases, the Court of Appeals resolved 10,059 cases, and the Court of Cassation concluded 1,048 cases. The report underscored the efficiency and effectiveness of Dubai Courts in managing and closing a substantial volume of cases, ensuring timely justice for all parties involved.
Additionally, the report highlighted the marriage contract service, which allows clients to conduct a legal or civil marriage contract recognized by Dubai Courts. This service enables individuals to obtain a legally recognized marriage contract. In 2023, the legal marriage contract service was the most utilized, with 8,895 contracts, while 249 civil marriage contracts were registered, totaling 9,144. A total of 9,056 family guidance and reconciliation cases were recorded last year, requiring 26,412 sessions to provide counseling and guidance to families facing various issues. According to the report, 79.6% of these family guidance and reconciliation cases were successfully resolved.
