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Dubai Financial Center Launches Digital Economy Court
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Court will now be taking cases online using advanced new technologies.
These days, it seems as though virtually everything has shifted from the real world to the online space. From productivity and office apps, to cloud storage and industry-specific software, most sectors of the global economy now function without a reliance on bricks-and-mortar locations.
Although the legal profession has moved many of its administrative processes online, until recent years, court proceedings have largely been conducted the old-fashioned way — that’s to say, in person.
Now, it seems, even court hearings are being digitized, as the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has just announced the launch of the world’s first international court, aimed at settling digital economy disputes. The complex infrastructure of the new legal operation will be managed by judicial experts with wide international experience, and authorities claim that the platform will provide the best legislative environment for startups and digital economy enterprises.
“The world’s first international digital economy court will enhance the ability of global companies and institutions operating in the digital economy to adapt to the future requirements of this fast-growing sector,” says Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, and President of DIFC.
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A team of expert developers and international lawyers was tasked with building and standardizing the fully paperless platform, which will use AI and complex algorithms to help process the various forms and paperwork required by court officials.
The DIFC Courts formed a Digital Economy Court (DEC) Division back in 2021 to oversee difficult national and international cases. As technologies such as blockchain, AI, unmanned vehicles, and fintech services become increasingly complex and intertwined, new rules and regulations must be developed to manage and resolve legal disputes.
Dubai’s digital economy court represents a considerable milestone for the emirate and places the progressive, tech-first Dubai International Financial Centre at the heart of a global, fully interconnected economy.
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Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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