First woman Deputy Director for DIAC

With this new position Jehad becomes the first Emarati woman to hold the high position in arbitration in the Gulf region.

Jehad, who is currently director of Legal Services at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is holder of a Masters in Business Law (LLM) from University of Hertfordshire in UK. She joined the Chamber as Legal Researcher in 2001 and was made manager of the Better Business Desk in 2003. Jehad has acquired extensive experience in legal services, mediation and alternate disputes during her tenure in the Chamber.

Looking at her track record in mediation and legal services, the Dubai Chamber Board of Directors selected Jehad for the top position. She is an active participant in the Mohammed bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development: Government Leaders Category and has been nominated for Distinguished Government Employee of 2006.

HE Eng Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber said that Jehad's selection as Deputy Director of DIAC is based on her long experience as director of the Legal Services Department.

He pointed out that Jehad has contributed a lot in offering excellent services to the Chamber's stakeholders as per its mission of representing, supporting and protecting the interests of the business community in Dubai. He further said that her appointment affirms the capabilities of UAE women in assuming higher positions of leadership and supporting the growth and prosperity of the country.

Buamim said, "Women represent 50% component of the total Dubai Chamber staff, while the executive management team has 40% of women. Thus we can say that women are playing an important role in the Chamber's strategy of supporting business growth in Dubai."

Habib Al Mulla, Vice Chairman of DIAC Board of Trusties said, "We are very pleased with the appointment of such a highly qualified person as Ms.Kazim. This demonstrates DIAC's commitment to train and qualify national resources to lead the arbitration practice in the UAE. DIAC, being a national arbitration centre has a duty towards the UAE and its business community and this duty can be served best by strengthening the administrative force of DIAC with highly qualified staff. DIAC has proven itself as the leading arbitration centre in the region and this appointment is another step forward in DIAC's path of progress."

Dr Hussam Talhouni, Director, DIAC, while welcoming the appointment of Jehad said that the Center has expanded its network and is handling a lot more cases of arbitration now then what it did earlier, therefore the choice of Jehad came at the right time. He wished her success in her new position.

On her part, Jehad Kazim thanked Dubai Chamber for entrusting her with the new responsibility in serving the business community of Dubai. She said, "My new appointment as Deputy Director of DIAC gives me an added incentive to work hard in further strengthening the leading position played by the Dubai International Arbitration Center and to make it more popular among business people seeking alternate means of settling their disputes."

First created in 1994 as the 'Centre for Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration', the current Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) is an autonomous, permanent, non-profit institution. DIAC supplies facilities for conducting commercial arbitration, promotes the settlement of disputes by arbitration, develops a pool of arbitrators in the practice of international arbitration, appoints arbitrators, chooses a venue and fixes fees of arbitrators and conciliators.

Located in Dubai Chamber, the Centre provides the regional and international business communities with an exclusive service at affordable rates. DIAC's website www.diac.ae includes significant information on international arbitration and a special link of an electronic library for the associate members.