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Tools · UAE Arbitration

DIAC, arbitrateAD, SIAC & LCIA Cost Calculator

Institutional cost estimate for a DIAC, arbitrateAD, SIAC or LCIA arbitration, built from each institution’s current published schedule — DIAC’s Table of Fees and Costs 2025, arbitrateAD’s 2024 Annex 1, SIAC’s 2025 Schedule and the LCIA’s 2023 Schedule of Costs. Registration fee, administrative fees and arbitrator fees scaled by amount in dispute, sole vs three-arbitrator panel, and expedited vs standard procedure.

How this works. DIAC (Table of Fees and Costs 2025, US$), arbitrateAD (Annex 1 to the 2024 Rules, AED) and SIAC (Schedule of Fees effective 1 January 2025, S$) all scale by amount in dispute, and each states its bands as a base plus a percentage of the amount above the threshold — which is how they are calculated here. DIAC publishes a minimum and a maximum per arbitrator, so its arbitrator line shows the midpoint with the published range beneath it; above US$100m DIAC publishes no scale at all and the Arbitration Court fixes the fee. arbitrateAD and SIAC publish a single figure. LCIA works differently: it does not scale by amount in dispute at all, charging a fixed £1,950 registration fee plus hourly rates for the tribunal (£250–650/hr) and for Secretariat time, so selecting it switches the inputs to estimated hours. Amounts are shown in each institution’s own currency where no exchange rate is applied. All figures exclude counsel fees, expert fees, hearing costs, transcription and any VAT or GST.

What is and isn't included

  • Included: registration fee, administrative fee and arbitrator fee per the institution's published schedule.
  • Not included: counsel fees, expert fees (quantum, technical, legal), hearing-room hire, transcription, translation, tribunal-secretary fees, party-appointed-arbitrator fees in excess of the schedule (where the parties agree), challenge / disqualification fees, and emergency-arbitrator hearing-related disbursements.
  • Counsel-fee benchmarks: for a substantial DIAC matter (USD 5–20m in dispute) UAE-firm counsel fees typically run AED 1.5–6m+ across the lifecycle. International firms charge more; specialist boutiques can be more efficient. Brief our disputes team for a fixed-fee or fee-cap proposal.
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  • Cost-shifting: both DIAC and arbitrateAD adopt a "loser pays" presumption, but with significant tribunal discretion. Costs orders typically follow the substantive outcome but are reduced where a party has been unreasonable in conduct, made unreasonable settlement offers, or pursued unmeritorious arguments.
  • Security for costs: the tribunal can order a respondent (or a claimant on a counter-claim) to put up security; this is a separate liquidity issue from the institutional fees.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does arbitration cost in the UAE?

The DIAC & arbitrateAD Cost Calculator is used to estimate the institutional costs for a Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) or arbitrateAD arbitration, including registration fees, administrative fees, and arbitrator fees. The calculator is based on the published DIAC 2022 fee schedule and arbitrateAD 2024 fee schedule. It provides an estimate of the costs scaled by the amount in dispute, tribunal composition, and procedure.

How do I use the DIAC & arbitrateAD Cost Calculator?

To use the calculator, select the arbitral institution (DIAC or arbitrateAD), currency of dispute (USD or AED), amount in dispute, tribunal composition (sole arbitrator or three-arbitrator panel), and procedure (standard or expedited). The calculator will then provide an estimate of the institutional costs. Note that the figures are estimates only and should be verified against the current institution-published schedule before committing.

What is included in the cost of arbitration — and what is not?

The calculator includes the registration fee, administrative fee, and arbitrator fee per the institution's published schedule. However, it does not include counsel fees, expert fees, hearing-room hire, transcription, and tribunal-secretary fees, which can equal or exceed the institutional fees on a substantial matter. Counsel fees for a substantial DIAC matter can typically run AED 1.5-6m+ across the lifecycle.

How are costs shifted in a DIAC or arbitrateAD arbitration?

Both DIAC and arbitrateAD adopt a 'loser pays' presumption, but with significant tribunal discretion. Costs orders typically follow the substantive outcome but are reduced where a party has been unreasonable in conduct, made unreasonable settlement offers, or pursued unmeritorious arguments. The tribunal can also order a respondent to put up security for costs, which is a separate liquidity issue from the institutional fees.

Can the DIAC & arbitrateAD Cost Calculator provide a fixed-fee or fee-cap proposal for a UAE arbitration?

The calculator provides an estimate of the institutional costs, but for a fixed-fee or fee-cap proposal, it is recommended to brief the disputes team at Noura Almaazmi Advocates & Legal Consultancy. They can provide a matter-specific budget and counsel-fee benchmarks for a substantial UAE arbitration, including DIAC, arbitrateAD, ICC, LCIA, and ICSID arbitrations.