In a cross-border dispute, the ability to rapidly secure assets is paramount. In the UAE, particularly in the DIFC and its specialized Digital Economy Court (DEC), the 1st Worldwide Freezing Order has been established and issued for implementation in the UAE. As a Forward-Thinking Jurisdiction, it embraces common law remedies to protect digital asset stakeholders worldwide.
The Court set out how Article 15(4) of the revised DIFC Court Law operates to support foreign proceedings with interim measures in Dubai, where a judgment would be enforceable through the DIFC Court’s processes. In doing so, the Court aligned the Digital Economy Court with leading common law authority on cross-border freezing relief. It confirmed the availability of worldwide measures where justified on the evidence.
This outcome reinforces the DIFC’s position as a sophisticated forum for urgent cross-border asset preservation in cases involving crypto-native structures, fiat-backed tokens, custodial arrangements, and complex investment flows. For enterprises whose assets move quickly across borders—and for foreign litigants seeking to secure assets that have been misappropriated and routed into Dubai—the Digital Economy Court now offers tested, decisive remedies to trace, ring-fence, and protect value pending final determination abroad.