Dubai to create world’s first ‘Court of the Blockchain’

Dubai is going full-on with blockchain technology.

Dubai was never one to back down from the advanced tech dance-off. The UAE has vowed to be at the forefront of technology innovation. Smart Dubai, AI City, underwater hotel, 3D printed houses—any new technology does not slip past their radar as they strive to become the materialization of sci-fi cities.

They’ve launched several global competitions to ensure they get the best futuristic tech solutions from all over the world, including the self-driving transport challenge—from which three finalists will get $1 million each. They even have a deal with Tesla to supply a fleet of 200 vehicles which they hope to serve the city’s streets without the need for a driver. This is part of their pledge to make 25% of cars in the city driverless by 2030.

And of course, they’re not taking the backseat on blockchain technology adoption either.

Early this year, Dubai teamed up with IBM in their bid to become the first “blockchain government.” As part of their government innovation arm, Smart Dubai, they want all their existing government systems migrated into a blockchain platform by 2020. And now, they are taking this move further.

The Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) Courts announced in a statement that they have partnered up with Smart Dubai to create the world’s first “Court of the Blockchain.”

“The partnership is the first step in creating a blockchain-powered future for the judiciary which will have far-reaching benefits, including streamlining the judicial process, removing document duplications, and driving greater efficiencies across the entire legal ecosystem,” they wrote in the announcement.

“This taskforce is in line with our guiding principle to deliver courts as a service, powered by technology and extended through cooperation agreements and alliances. By harnessing blockchain technology, Dubai will be firmly positioned at the forefront of legaltech and judicial innovation, setting the standards for countries and judiciaries to follow,” Amna Al Owais, Chief Executive & Registrar, DIFC Courts, said.

“Led by the ambitious vision of our leadership, Smart Dubai has set out to transform the emirate into a fully-fledged smart city where all services are digitised. The emirate has become a global trailblazer in embracing advanced technologies and steering them towards the safety, comfort and happiness of our city’s residents and visitors. One of the most notable of these innovations is Blockchain, where the Dubai Blockchain Strategy seeks to run 100% of applicable government transactions on Blockchain by 2020,” Her Excellency Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of the Smart Dubai Office (SDO), said.

“An invention of this calibre and potential requires an equally disruptive set of rules and an empowered institution to uphold them. This is where our partnership with DIFC Courts comes in, allowing us to work together and create the world’s first disruptive court, helping to truly unlock the power of blockchain technology,” Dr Aisha added.