Legal Excellence Tops Agenda As Heads Of Dubais Two Courts Meet
The heads of Dubais two courts, the Arabic language Dubai Courts and the English language DIFC Courts, met recently to discuss areas of shared interest, including the new Wills & Probate Registry and the Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Initiatives for Legal Excellence.
The meeting at the DIFC Courts further reinforced the close collaboration between the two courts for the benefit of those living, working and investing in Dubai. It also built on the memoranda signed between the courts, the joint judicial committee established in 2009, collaboration on events such as the International Association of Court Administration conference, which was held for the first time in the Middle East in 2013, and the working group between the courts established to develop complementary registries for the wills of non-Muslims.
Michael Hwang, Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts, welcomed HE Expert Tarish Al Mansouri, Director General of Dubai Courts. The two organisations are working closely together to support the UAEs vision of making the country one of the best places in the world to do business by 2021.
The DIFC Wills and Probate Registry provides non-Muslim expatriates the ability to register English language wills that allow their Dubai assets to be transferred upon death according to their wishes. At the launch of the Registry it was also announced that Dubai Courts would be establishing a similar registry for Arabic language wills. During the meeting the two courts discussed how to further streamline the process of probate claims related to registered wills.
They also considered potential new joint programmes as part of the Initiatives for Legal Excellence of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Judicial Council, and the formation of a joint operational committee to complement the current joint judicial committee.
HE Expert Tarish Al Mansouri, Director General of Dubai Courts, highlighted the importance of cooperation and sharing best practice with the DIFC Courts to achieve justice, deliver international standards and support the UAEs position on the global stage.
