2025-07-14 18:00

UPPERCASE LEGAL Secures Recognition of Arbitration Award Issued by the RSPP Arbitration Center in the DIFC Courts

On July 3, 2025, the Court of First Instance of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC Courts) issued Order No. ARB 023/2025, formally recognizing an arbitration award rendered by the Arbitration Center at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP). The order explicitly states that the award “shall be recognised as binding within the DIFC.”

Furthermore, the court referred to Article 7 of Dubai Law No. 12 of 2004, which provides that “ratified” arbitral awards may be enforced beyond the jurisdiction of the DIFC, within the wider legal framework of the Emirate of Dubai. This offers additional assurances and enforcement mechanisms for parties involved in international commercial disputes.

The case concerned mutual claims between a UAE-based company and its Russian counterparty arising from contracts related to international supply, storage, and associated services. The arbitration proceedings were conducted in English, applying both Russian and UAE law. The arbitral tribunal was composed of arbitrators from Russia and the UAE, each appointed by the respective parties.

“Case won! For the first time, an arbitration award issued by the RSPP Arbitration Center has been recognized by the DIFC Courts, following a claim brought by our client. This marks a major precedent in establishing reciprocity in the recognition of arbitral decisions,” wrote Sergey Levichev, Partner and Head of the Dispute Resolution Practice at UPPERCASE LEGAL, on his Telegram channel.

It is important to note that the DIFC court’s decision aligns with established legal practice, according to which an application for recognition and enforcement of a judicial act does not require proof of the debtor’s assets being located within the DIFC. In such cases, the DIFC Courts apply the “conduit jurisdiction” approach, asserting their competence on formal grounds even in the absence of territorial or asset-based nexus.

Over the past five years, the RSPP Arbitration Center has handled disputes involving companies from 21 jurisdictions. Its awards have already been recognized in eight foreign legal systems, including the United Kingdom, EU member states (in 2020, 2024, and 2025), and China.

UPPERCASE LEGAL continues to support clients in complex cross-border disputes, ensuring recognition and enforcement of decisions in key jurisdictions.

UPPERCASE LEGAL is an international law firm providing comprehensive legal services in dispute resolution, transactional support, and strategic advisory across MENA countries. The firm’s expertise has been highly ranked by Pravo-300 UAE 2024 and the BRICS Legal Index 2025.