The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts in an aim to boost its digital transformation efforts acquires the electronic seal solution Ethaq, a paperlessinitiative that enables digital authenticity of documents with the support of UAE PASS, the secure national digital identity platform for the emirates.
The Ethaq certificate is powered by Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC) and its root certificate authority. The DIFC Courts has become the first Dubai entity to acquire the entirely paperless certificate that helps to electronically sign, issue and authenticate the documents.
The paperless initiative also integrates UAE PASS, in collaboration with Smart Dubai, to provide an end-to-end signing solution that combines both an electronic seal and an electronic signature solution based on digitally verifiable identities.
Ethaq will also strengthen the security and integrity of the documentation and eliminate tampering of official documents, allowing users to digitally verify the authenticity of any legal documents through the DIFC Courts website.
Omar Juma Al Mheiri, Deputy Chief Justice, DIFC Courts, said, “As the first UAE Court to integrate this solution, we are maintaining our assertive push towards digital transformation and equipping our court users with the most advanced tools to ensure ease of accessing our services. This new innovative e-service will ensure that the DIFC Courts continues to fulfill the requirements under the Dubai Paperless Strategy 2021 and create legal security and certainty for businesses in an era of technological disruption.”
The ‘Ethaq’ capability will initially be secured for all court user service documents, such as DIFC Courts Judgments and Orders, with a secondary implementation for all DIFC Courts internal and operational documentation.
Yousef Al Shaibani Director General – DESC
“Ethaq is one of DESC’s continuous efforts in adopting forefront technologies to protect Dubai digitally. This initiative reinforces the efficiency of digital services to support the city’s smart transformation and achieves the visionary goals set by the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy.”
Wesam Lootah, CEO of the Smart Dubai Government Establishment, said, “Dubai’s journey to becoming a fully paperless society continues with this important electronic seal initiative from DESC. Smart Dubai is leading the charge for the emirate to become the world’s smartest and happiest city, with the drive towards becoming paperless being a primary pillar of this aim.”
