Lawyers happy to be common people

Dubai's decision to offer two different legal systems has the backing of a substantial proportion of Emirati lawyers, according to the results of a poll conducted by the DIFC Courts.

The Courts - the English language common law judicial system based at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) - yesterday published the findings of a poll taken at a gathering of more than 120 Emirati lawyers.

It said that 96 per cent believe that Dubai offering the choice of an Arabic civil system and an English-language common law system is a positive development.

The Emirati legal community anticipates an increase in UAE nationals seeking experience in the English-language common law system at the DIFC Courts.

Last year the Dubai government overhauled the commercial legal system in the emirate by signing a decree to allow any company to take a dispute to the DIFC Courts - not just those in the DIFC itself.

DIFC Courts judge Omar Al Muhairi, said lawyers should embrace the new system.

“Myself and two of my peer judges have experience of both of Dubai’s judicial systems and we made the transition easily,” he said.