June 09, 2023 Registrar Directions
REGISTRAR’S DIRECTION NO. 1 OF 2023 – INDICATIVE HOURLY LEGAL CHARGES
THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE COURTS
REGISTRAR’S DIRECTION NO. 1 OF 2023
Indicative Hourly Legal Charges
Citation
This Registrar’s Direction will come into effect on the date of signature. It may be cited as Registrar’s Direction 1 of 2023 – Indicative Hourly Charges and may be abbreviated to RD 1/2023. It replaces RD 1/2017.
Pursuant to the Rules of the DIFC Courts (the “RDC”) there are certain circumstances in which the Courts will make an immediate or detailed assessment of costs. In order to provide a benchmark to the Courts of the average charge out rates in Dubai, a survey of law firms has been undertaken and below are the average hourly rates ascribed to varying levels of experience and seniority.
| Level of Legal Experience | Average Hourly Rate (AED) | Average Hourly Rate (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Paralegals | 1450 | 415 |
| Trainees/lawyers up to 5 years | 2391 | 651 |
| Lawyers 6-10 years | 2972 | 809 |
| 10+ years | 3298 | 898 |
| Partners | 3746 | 1020 |
These rates should be taken as a guidance when considering the rates likely to be acceptable to the Courts when assessing costs.
Issued by:
Ayesha Bin Kalban
Registrar of the DIFC Courts
Date: 9 June 2023
