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Dubai - The DIFC Courts recently welcomed a delegation from their partner organisation the Dubai Courts as the complementary judicial systems pursue their shared goal of delivering excellence in dispute resolution. The delegation was headed by Mohammed Amin Mubashri, Director of the Mediation Centre at the Dubai Courts, and is part of a regular series of meetings and events designed to exchange ideas, knowledge and best practice.
The English-language common law system of the DIFC Courts was established in 2004 to provide businesses with a choice about how to resolve a commercial dispute. Since then, the DIFC Courts and the Arabic-language civil law system of the Dubai Courts have collaborated closely to support the needs of businesses operating in the Emirate, including signing memoranda clarifying enforcement procedures between the two organisations and covering collaboration.
Mark Beer, OBE, Chief Executive and Registrar of the DIFC Courts, said: "Companies in Dubai benefit greatly from the choice and certainty offered by the Emirate's complementary common law and civil code judicial systems. Though the regular exchange of knowledge and experience, the Dubai Courts and the DIFC Courts are able to support the evolving needs of companies and are helping to make the UAE one of the best places in the world to do business."
Among the topics discussed during the high level meeting was how best to promote the amicable resolution of disputes before they reach the litigation stage. The DIFC Courts' Small Claims Tribunal was cited as a good example of this approach, with 90% of claims it hears being settled within three weeks and without the need for a trial.
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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.
For further information, please contact:
ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-4507600
Fax: 971-4-4358040
Email: liam.turner@bm.com / tameem.alkintar@bm.com
© Press Release 2015
