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DIFC court judges take oath

DUBAI — Six newly-appointed judges of the Dubai International Financial Centre Court (DIFC) took the oath of office before His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, here yesterday.

The new judges include David A.R. Williams, Anthony Coleman, Tan Seri Dato Siti Norma Yaakob, the first female judge at the DIFC Courts, Sir John Chadwick. The other two are UAE nationals — Omar Juma Al Muhairy, and Ali Shamis Mohammed Al Midhani. The new judges, pledged to uphold justice, respect the laws of the land and discharge their duties without fear or favour.

Shaikh Mohammed urged the judges to deal with all cases brought before them with utmost transparency and neutrality to achieve justice for all in order to “consolidate the confidence in our justice and financial systems”.

The governor of the DIFC courts, Dr Omar Mohammed Ahmed bin Sulaiman, said the appointment of world-class judges to the DIFC Courts reflected the rapid growth and expansion of the centre, which adopts international standards in the settling of legal disputes, adding that it also reflects the adoption of a judicial system that is based on international practices.

Dr Sulaiman assured international firms operating in the country that the DIFC Courts have competent and highly reputable judges with great legal experience to deal with all cases brought before them. Present at the swearing-in ceremony were Minister of Economy Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Executive Chairman of Dubai Ports, Customs & Free Zone Corporation, Sultan bin Sulayem, Director-General of Dubai Protocol and Guests Department, Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, and DIFC Courts Chief Justice, Sir Anthony Evans.