The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts have announced the launch of a new range of digital public services, including the Digital Assets Will, during GITEX Global 2024. Live demonstrations showcased these advanced services, highlighting new platforms, enhanced accessibility, and strengthened security features.
A key addition to the DIFC Courts’ Wills Service, the Digital Assets Will allows individuals to manage and distribute their digital assets via a non-custodial DIFC Courts wallet. This gives users full control of their assets, enabling them to allocate digital holdings such as ETH, BTC, and MATIC to chosen beneficiaries, while also mobilizing them during their lifetime. Assets will eventually be passed on as ‘specific gifts.’
Expanding Asset Management and Security
The wallet currently supports digital formats including USDT and HBAR, with plans to integrate future NFT standards, such as ERC 721 and HTS. This new offering complements the broader array of Wills available at DIFC Courts, including options for property, financial assets, businesses, and guardianship.
Those seeking to create a DIFC Courts Will can use the existing online drafting services or access the Virtual Registry, which connects clients with compliance officers via video link, no matter where they are in the world. Additionally, Wills can be stored in the global digital vault, tejouri. Launched in 2022, tejouri serves as both a cloud vault and secure digital safe, with all files protected through advanced cryptographic methods, biometric authentication, and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT).
Enhanced Legal Services at DIFC Courts
In addition to the Digital Assets Will, DIFC Courts introduced a new Notary Service — the first in the UAE to notarize English documents. The service offers three modes: automated self-service, live virtual notarization, and an in-person option, all backed by Hedera Blockchain technology. Notarized documents will be verified using cryptographic methods and stored as NFTs for maximum preservation.
His Excellency Justice Omar Al Mheiri, Director of DIFC Courts, stated, “In our new digitally driven societies, individuals and businesses are demonstrating increased desire for easily accessible public services. The strong growth momentum arising from the implementation of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and the Dubai Digital Strategy, has touched a diverse range of sectors, including government legal services. Our obligation is to deploy the latest emerging technologies to facilitate this growth and demand. Breaking down the boundaries of access to justice sits at the core of our operations and these new digital services provide ease of process across administrative tasks, such as notarisation, to more complex matters involving alternative dispute resolution and inheritance.”
New Notary and Mediation Services
DIFC Courts’ Notary Service will enable the attestation of key documents, such as affidavits, Wills, power of attorney, and marriage certificates. Each document will be securely timestamped on the blockchain, ensuring authenticity and integrity.
A new Mediation Service Centre has also been announced, enabling parties to resolve disputes through DIFC Courts’ registered mediators. Mediation can be conducted virtually, thanks to the upgraded AI-powered Court Management System (CMS), or in-person. This aligns with the Courts’ commitment to offer diverse and accessible dispute resolution options.
Collaboration with Technology Partners
The new suite of services is backed by partnerships with leading technology firms. The Hashgraph Association played a critical role in building the blockchain infrastructure, with support from Deca4 Advisory and the DataFlow Group, ensuring compliance with primary source verification (PSV) protocols and providing tamper-proof documentation.
Kamal Youssefi, President of The Hashgraph Association, said: “We are proud to be part of this impactful journey and reaffirm our continued support to the DIFC Courts in launching both the Digital Assets Will, as well as the Notary Service, powered by Hedera DLT platform. This project underscores our commitment to strengthening decentralized infrastructures contributing to digital innovation across the UAE.”
Sunil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of DataFlow Group, added, “At DataFlow, we are proud to collaborate with the DIFC Courts to introduce a new era of digital public services aligned with the UAE’s vision for digital transformation.”
With this strategic rollout of new services, the DIFC Courts continue to enhance Dubai’s global standing as a hub for legal and digital innovation. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy under the Dubai Digital Strategy and Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to propel the UAE into the forefront of digital transformation.
