Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 25 January 2015

The DIFC Courts today welcomed the Lord Mayor of London and a delegation of senior British business leaders on a tour of Dubai's English-language commercial courts. Alderman Alan Yarrow, the 687th Lord Mayor of the City of London, is in the UAE as part of a series of visits to the world's leading commercial and financial centres.

Dubai and the City of London have built strong legal links in recent years. In 2013, the DIFC Courts and the Commercial Court of England and Wales, both of which are recognised as being leading English-Language commercial courts, signed a Memorandum of Guidance defining such issues as the mutual enforcement of money decisions. The Memorandum is designed to provide greater certainty to investors, businessmen and lawyers in the UK who wish to develop closer trade and investment links with the emirate, and vice versa.

Sir John Chadwick, Deputy Chief Justice at the DIFC Courts, said: "The sense of shared interest and the spirit of cooperation between London and Dubai seems to grow stronger ever year. It was a privilege to show Alderman Yarrow how the DIFC Courts are not only empowering regional commerce through additional contract clarity and certainty, but also enabling British businesses to access new opportunities across the Middle East, Africa, Asia  via the DIFC."

Alderman Alan Yarrow, Lord Mayor of the City of London, commented: "It is great to see the DIFC Courts go from strength-to-strength, and I applaud the  global connections they are building, which started with the UK and now extend into Africa and Asia. It is becoming ever more important for commercial courts to work together to protect global investments."

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For further information, please contact:
Liam Turner / Tameem Alkintar
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-4507600
Fax: 971-4-4358040
Email: liam.turner@bm.com / tameem.alkintar@bm.com 

About the DIFC Courts
The UAE's DIFC Courts administer a unique English-language common law system - offering swift, independent justice to settle local and international commercial or civil disputes. The Courts, based in Dubai, provide certainty through transparent, enforceable judgments from internationally-recognised judges, who adhere to the highest global legal standards. The DIFC Courts are independent from, but complementary to, the UAE's Arabic-language civil law system - offering a choice that strengthens both processes while ensuring public access to world-class justice.

In October 2011, a decree of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, opened the DIFC Courts' jurisdiction to businesses from all across the GCC region and beyond to provide the international business community with access to one of the most advanced commercial courts in the world.

The DIFC Courts were established under laws enacted by the late HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai in September 2004.  The laws establishing the DIFC Courts are designed to ensure that the DIFC Courts provide the certainty, flexibility and efficiency expected by Court users. Nearly 500 cases have been resolved through the DIFC Courts since 2008, while over 90% of Small Claims Tribunal cases are concluded within three weeks. The Courts' community-focused approach encourages early settlement, while their successful track record supports Dubai's growing status as an international business hub.

In line with HH Sheikh Mohammed's vision, the DIFC Courts serve to develop the UAE national workforce and enhance the competitiveness of Emirati advocates.  The DIFC Courts are spearheading training programmes predominantly aimed at local Emirati lawyers, which offer knowledge of, and qualifications in, the English-language common law system.

About the office of Lord Mayor of the City of London
The office of Lord Mayor of London was created in 1189. The Lord Mayor's principal role today is as ambassador for all UK-based financial and professional services. Alderman Alan Yarrow took office on November 7, 2014, following more than four decades working at the most senior levels of the UK financial services industry.

© Press Release 2015