Emirati advocates welcome Dubai's judicial choice

The event was attended by more than 120 Emirati lawyers and research amongst this audience reveals that there is little doubt in this community that the DIFC Courts' extended jurisdiction is a positive development for the Emirate.

In addition, findings suggest that the Emirati legal community anticipates an increase in UAE-National advocates seeking experience in the English-language common law system on offer at the DIFC Courts and 100% of the delegates responding to the survey requested more information on the common law training programmes in development by the Courts.

The respective event, opened by Minister of Justice, H.E.DrHadef bin Jua'an Al Dhaheri, outlined the DIFC Courts' commitment to training the National legal community about the common-law system. On the same day a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the DIFC Courts and the UAE Institute of Training and Judicial Studies (ITJS). The MoU outlined a mutual agreement that both parties would collaborate on efforts to develop Emirati lawyers within the common legal system. This commitment is in line with the Government's mission to strengthen the competitiveness of its national lawyers, amongst the UAE's international community of legal professionals.

H.E. Judge Omar Al Muhairi, DIFC Courts Judge said, "These results are very encouraging and the DIFC Courts embrace their responsibility to offer as much training as possible to this group. Myself and two of my peer judges at the DIFC Courts have experience of both of Dubai's judicial systems and we made the transition easily. We look forward to the forecasted increase in Emirati practitioners at the Courts."

Following a decree from Dubai's Ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in late 2011, the DIFC Courts' are now open to hear any civil or commercial case, providing the international business community with access to what has been described as the most advanced commercial court in the world.