Dubai International Arbitration Centre

What Dubai International Arbitration Centre does

The Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) is a Dubai government-established, non-profit arbitration institution founded in 1994, operating under Emiri Decree No. 34 of 2021. It is the largest arbitral institution in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region and provides institutional arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and appointing authority services governed by the DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022 and DIAC Mediation Rules 2023. DIAC serves international businesses engaged in cross-border commercial disputes, legal practitioners, academic institutions, and judicial bodies, with a historic caseload of over 5,000 registered cases including 340 cases in 2022 with AED 11.2 billion in total dispute value.

DIAC's technology stack includes a proprietary electronic case management system for online case registration, and it launched what it describes as the world's first Tribunal Secretary Platform to support arbitral proceedings digitally. In 2025, DIAC entered strategic technology partnerships with Opus 2 (legal software and hearing services) and Jus Mundi/Jus AI to integrate AI-powered tools into case management and dispute resolution workflows. The institution maintains a dual presence with headquarters at Dubai Chambers (Deira) and a branch at the Dubai International Financial Centre.

The revenue model is transaction-based on arbitration and mediation case fees (registration fees, administrative fees, and arbitrator fees calibrated by amount in dispute, with the Arbitration Court setting fees for disputes exceeding USD 100 million), supplemented by training program fees (AED 2,000–5,100 per participant across the three-stage Professional Diploma in International Arbitration). DIAC also generates revenue from the DIAC Academy and ADR Lab launched in September 2025. Distribution occurs through direct institutional services, online self-serve case registration, training programs, and an event-driven GTM motion anchored by over 12 MoUs with universities and arbitration centers globally.

Name

Dubai International Arbitration Centre

Legal name

Dubai International Arbitration Centre

Website

https://diac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Dubai International Arbitration Centre is a Dubai government-established non-profit institution providing institutional arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and appointing authority services, serving international businesses, legal practitioners, and judicial institutions across the MEASA region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Deira

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Arbitration Case Fees: DIAC charges registration fees, administrative fees, and arbitrator fees based on the amount in dispute. The Arbitration Court determines fees according to the Table of Fees and Costs. Fees include registration fee, centre's administrative fees and expenses, and fees and expenses of the Tribunal and any Tribunal Secretary.
2. Training Program Fees: DIAC generates revenue through professional training programs including arbitration training courses at three stages. Fees are charged per participant with early bird and regular pricing tiers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) is a non-profit arbitral institution that administers international commercial arbitration, mediation, conciliation, and appointing authority services under the DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022 and DIAC Mediation Rules 2023. It provides institutional case management, arbitrator appointment, and dispute administration for parties in cross-border commercial disputes, complemented by professional training programs through its DIAC Academy and innovation initiatives via its ADR Lab.

Product overview

DIAC offers a comprehensive suite of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services as a unified platform. The core offerings include institutional arbitration under the DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022, mediation under DIAC Mediation Rules 2023, conciliation, and appointing authority services. Complementing these are educational products including the DIAC Academy (launched September 2025) and the three-stage Professional Diploma in International Arbitration training program. The ADR Lab, also launched in September 2025, focuses on innovation in dispute resolution. The organization processes approximately 5000 registered cases with an average dispute value of AED 5.5 billion per year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arbitration Services DIAC's primary arbitration service governed by the DIAC Arbitration Rules 2022, providing institutional arbitration for domestic and international commercial disputes, including case administration, arbitrator appointments, and final award issuance. Used by international corporations and businesses engaged in cross-border transactions.
• Mediation Services Mediation services under the DIAC Mediation Rules 2023, providing parties with a structured mediation process facilitated by trained mediators to resolve commercial disputes amicably. Designed for businesses seeking faster, less adversarial resolution of cross-border disputes.
• Conciliation Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 5000+ total registered cases historically, with 340 cases in 2022 alone
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• India ADR WeekminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026DIAC supports India ADR Week 2026, an event promoting alternative dispute resolution in India and the broader region.
• Jus Mundi and Jus AIcoreTechnology or Integration · 24 June 2025AI and innovation partnership aimed at equipping DIAC with Jus AI cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools to streamline operations and boost efficiency. DIAC's case management team will utilize Jus AI tools.
• Opus 2coreTechnology or Integration · 21 January 2025Strategic technology partnership with Opus 2, a global leader in legal software and hearing services, to enhance the dispute resolution experience for DIAC users through advanced case management and hearing technologies.
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2024Joint DIAC and HKIAC Symposium titled 'Shaping the Future of Dispute Resolution' exploring how technology is redefining arbitration practice including machine learning, AI, case management systems, and virtual hearings.
• ASA Swiss Arbitration AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2024Collaboration with ASA Swiss Arbitration Association for the world's first Tribunal Secretary Platform event, bringing together distinguished panel of experts to discuss the pioneering platform set to revolutionize arbitration.
• Paris-Panthéon-Assas UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 September 2024Landmark MoU to promote ADR education, knowledge exchange, and enhance research initiatives related to international arbitration. DIAC is the largest arbitral institution in MEASA and Paris-Panthéon-Assas is France's first and oldest law university.
• International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2024MoU collaboration with IAMC, headquartered in Hyderabad, India, aimed at enhancing international cooperation in dispute resolution. The MOU signing ceremony was held at DIAC headquarters.
• Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2024MoU signing with VIAC during the Ho Chi Minh City International Construction Arbitration Conference (HICAC) 2024. Part of DIAC's strategy launched in early 2023 with over 12 MoUs signed. Aims to enhance the scope and effectiveness of arbitration as a preferred method of dispute resolution.
• Dubai CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 November 2023Strategic partnership MoU aligned with Dubai's D33 economic agenda. Includes development of advanced arbitration processes and procedures, exchange of expertise, and joint training and awareness initiatives.
• Dubai Judicial InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2023Strategic MoU to develop dispute settlement sector, enhance national arbitration capacities, and raise community awareness of arbitration and ADR methods. Includes joint training programs, arbitration hearing facilities, and collaborative research.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Korean Commercial Arbitration Board: KCAB is a leading Asian arbitral institution administering domestic and international arbitration under its own rules and actively expanding its cross-border profile. It is a direct peer to DIAC given comparable regional hub role and competition for Asia-MEASA commercial disputes.
• Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Institute: SCC Arbitration Institute administers international arbitrations under the SCC Rules and is recognized globally for arbitration excellence. It is a direct peer to DIAC given comparable institutional arbitration offering, rule-based fee schedule, and competition for international commercial disputes.
• International Arbitration and Mediation Centre: IAMC Hyderabad is an India-based international arbitration and mediation centre that signed an MoU with DIAC in June 2024. It is a direct peer given direct overlap on arbitration and mediation services and shared South Asia corridor with DIAC's MEASA coverage.
• Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration: CRCICA is a regional arbitral institution serving the MENA region under joint auspices of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization and the Government of Egypt. It is a direct peer to DIAC given regional arbitration administration role and direct overlap with DIAC's primary MEASA market.
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre: HKIAC is a leading Asian arbitral institution administering international arbitration under its own rules and partnering with DIAC via a 2024 joint symposium. It is a direct peer given shared institutional arbitration model, similar rule-based fee structures, and active collaboration with DIAC on technology in arbitration.
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre: SIAC is one of the world's leading international arbitral institutions based in Singapore, offering arbitration and mediation services under its own rules. It is a direct peer to DIAC given overlapping jurisdiction goals (Asia/EMEA corridor), fee-based dispute administration model, and competing for cross-border commercial matters.

Broad incumbents

• International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration: ICC's International Court of Arbitration is the world's oldest and one of the most established arbitral institutions, handling a large share of high-value cross-border disputes. It is a broad incumbent peer given the global arbitration administration model and overlapping institutional arbitration services with DIAC.
• London Court of International Arbitration: LCIA is a leading London-based international arbitral institution administering disputes under its own rules with strong EMEA brand recognition. It is a broad incumbent peer to DIAC given the same institutional arbitration model and competition for commercial parties selecting seats and rules.
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes: ICSID is a World Bank-affiliated institution administering investor-state arbitrations globally under its own rules. It is a broad incumbent peer to DIAC in the international arbitration ecosystem, particularly relevant as DIAC positions itself for cross-border commercial disputes with regional state involvement.
• American Arbitration Association International Centre for Dispute Resolution: AAA-ICDR administers international arbitrations and mediations under its own rules with deep U.S. and global party reach. It is a broad incumbent peer given overlapping international arbitration and mediation services with DIAC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DIACarbitration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dubai International Arbitration Centre