H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani and H.E. Justice Omar Al Muhairi to Sit in Court of Appeal; David Williams QC Sworn in as Judge
Dubai, Tuesday, 18 November 2008: HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai today swore in three Judges of the DIFC Courts at a ceremony held at Zabeel Palace.
The swearing-in marks the promotion of HE Justice Ali Al Madhani and HE Justice Omar Al Muhairi to the Court of Appeal in the DIFC Courts and the appointment of David Williams QC as Judge of the DIFC Courts.
His Excellency Dr Omar Bin Sulaiman, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Vice Chairman of the UAE Central Bank; was present at the ceremony.
HE Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman said: "The DIFC Courts have been created as part of realising HH Sheikh Mohammed's vision to develop Dubai into a leading global business centre that provides a secure and trusted investment environment for international and regional businesses. The DIFC Courts are an integral part of the secure and stable platform that DIFC provides financial companies to support their growth. The expertise of these judges will strengthen the DIFC Courts' ability to provide an independent, fair and efficient judicial system."
Sir Anthony Evans, Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts said: "Both Al Madhani and Al Muhairi have already played a tremendous role in developing the Small Claims Tribunal of the DIFC Courts and I am confident that they will make positive and significant contributions to the continued development of the DIFC Courts. Justice David Williams brings extensive judicial knowledge and experience to the DIFC Courts acquired in New Zealand, a major common law jurisdiction. The swearing-in of the three judges boosts the DIFC Courts' ability to deal with cases of any level of complexity."
The Judges expressed their sense of pride in being sworn-in in the presence of HH Sheikh Mohammed and pledged to contribute their best to ensure that DIFC Courts provides the highest standards of legal procedure and the certainty, flexibility and efficiency expected by global institutions.
Headed by eminent judges who have varied and extensive experience in different common law jurisdictions around the world, the DIFC Courts have been designed to specifically deal with cases that may involve sophisticated financial transactions. The Rules of the DIFC Courts were created following extensive consultation and review of international best practices and are modelled on English Civil Procedure Rules (CPR).
Led by Sir Anthony Evans, Chief Justice and Michael Hwang, Deputy Chief Justice, the DIFC Courts' panel of distinguished judges includes Justice Sir Anthony Colman, Justice Sir John Chadwick, Justice Tan Sri Siti Norma Yaakob, Justice David Williams, H.E. Justice Omar Al Muhairi and H.E. Justice Ali Al Madhani.
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About the DIFC:
The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) is an onshore hub for global finance. It bridges the time gap between the financial centres of Hong Kong and London and services a region with the largest untapped emerging market for financial services. In just four years, over 750 firms have registered at the DIFC. They operate in an open environment complemented with world-class regulations and standards. The DIFC offers its member institutions incentives such as 100 per cent foreign ownership, zero tax on income and profits and no restrictions on foreign exchange. In addition their business benefits from modern infrastructure, operational support and business continuity facilities of uncompromisingly high standards. (www.difc.ae)
About the DIFC Courts:
The DIFC Courts is an independent judicial system established under laws enacted by The Late His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai in September 2004. It has jurisdiction over matters arising from and within DIFC. The DIFC Courts is an independent court system set up to uphold the provisions of DIFC laws and regulations. They provide the protection of an English language, common law court system, with an internationally renowned bench of judges versed in commercial disputes, to ensure transparent and efficient justice in civil and commercial matters in or relating to the Centre.
The overriding objective of the DIFC Courts is to deal with cases justly and to help parties settle cases.
Designed to deal specifically with the sophisticated transactions conducted within the DIFC, the DIFC Courts provide comprehensive legal redress in civil and commercial matters. Along with offering the highest standards in legal dispute resolution and a judicial system based on international best practices, DIFC Courts provide a small claims tribunal which is unique in the region. In January this year, DIFC Courts appointed the first female judge in the UAE and announced that two Emirati judges had become common law International Judges. (www.difccourts.ae).
Iman Ahmad
Regional Media Relations Manager
Dubai International Financial Centre
Tel: +971 50 2058021
E-mail: iman.ahmad@difc.ae
© Press Release 2008
