Dubai's Special Court Settles Over Dh4 Billion Worth of Inheritance Cases Last Year

The Special Court of Inheritance in Dubai settled inheritance cases worth over Dh4 billion last year, as reported in the Dubai Courts' 2023 annual report.

Established in September 2022, the Dubai Inheritance Court resolved a total of 580 cases, comprising 512 Muslim estates, 38 non-Muslim estates, and 30 private estates. These cases amounted to Dh4,115,917,861 in value.

Dubai Courts reported a 92.6 per cent success rate in inheritance settlements, exceeding the targeted 90 per cent. The high performance underscores the court's efficiency in distributing assets according to legal wills and personal revenues.

Procedures were meticulously executed to distribute properties and assets based on the deceased's will. Additionally, 19 other files were prepared for managing private inheritance arrangements.

Inheritance settlement is a critical legal process ensuring equitable distribution of assets based on legal and Sharia principles. Dubai continues to refine procedures to enhance efficiency and accuracy, facilitating fair settlements that meet the needs of individuals and families.

On average, cases took 81 days from registration to judgment, with the first hearing to judgment averaging 52 days and a waiting time of 28 days for the first hearing.

In 2023, Dubai Courts witnessed increased use of smart applications for managing various cases. A total of 872,414 online applications were submitted across the courts, with the Court of Appeals processing 32,005, the Commercial Court of First Instance handling 51,132, and the Labour Court of First Instance managing 33,316 smart applications.

The year also saw significant case completions across civil and criminal courts. Civil courts at the First Instance resolved 36,468 cases, with the Court of Appeals and Court of Cassation finalising 13,483 and 4,919 cases respectively.

Similarly, criminal courts saw resolutions with the First Instance handling 33,473 cases, the Court of Appeals resolving 10,059, and the Court of Cassation concluding 1,048 cases. These figures highlight Dubai Courts' efficiency in managing and closing a substantial volume of cases, ensuring timely justice.

The report highlighted the marriage contract service, enabling clients to conduct legally recognised marriage contracts accredited by Dubai Courts. In 2023, 8,895 legal marriage contracts and 249 civil marriage contracts were registered, totaling 9,144 contracts.

Additionally, 9,056 family guidance and reconciliation cases were recorded, necessitating 26,412 counselling sessions to aid families in resolving various issues. Approximately 79.6 per cent of these cases achieved successful resolution.