The "world's first Court of the Blockchain" has launched in Dubai according to a joint announcement on Monday from the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) Courts and the government-controlled Smart Dubai.
Both sides said they will initially explore how to aid the verification of court judgments for cross-border enforcement.
DIFC Courts claimed the partnership "is the first step in creating a blockchain-powered future for the judiciary which will have far-reaching benefits."
This e-judiciary includes streamlining the judicial process, removing document duplication, and driving greater efficiencies across the entire legal ecosystem, said the DIFC Courts.
Blockchain technology allows users to work on one document simultaneously, instead of copying the same documents, making the work process more efficient and less time-consuming.
Future research will combine expertise and resources to investigate and handle disputes from private and public blockchains, said the DIFC Courts.
Amna Al Owais, chief executive and registrar of DIFC Courts, said "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."
Al Owais added that "by harnessing blockchain technology, Dubai will be firmly positioned at the forefront of legal technology and judicial innovation, setting the standards for countries and judiciaries to follow."
Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, director general of the Smart Dubai office, said that "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 innovations is blockchain, where the Dubai Blockchain Strategy seeks to run all applicable government transactions on blockchain by 2020, she added.
