Highlights the Courts' commitment to cooperation on a regional level
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 23 May 2010: The DIFC Courts, the Dubai International Financial Centre's (DIFC) independent, common law judicial system, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jordanian Ministry of Justice, aimed at enhancing cooperation and the exchange of expertise. Following previous MoUs with Dubai Courts, the Dubai Judicial Institute and the UAE Ministry of Justice, this is the DIFC Courts' first international MoU and yet another example of legal and judicial cooperation between judicial institutions in the UAE and wider region.
The signing took place following discussions held between the Jordanian Minister of Justice, H.E. Ayman Odeh and the visiting delegation from the DIFC Courts, including Chief Justice Sir Anthony Evans, H.E Justice Ali Al Madhani, H.E Justice Omar Al Muhairi and Mark Beer, the DIFC Courts' Registrar. As well as discussing the MOU, the two sides reviewed the mechanisms needed to support joint cooperation in the future.
The MOU sets out the grounds for official cooperation, including the exchange of legal knowledge and expertise, as well as working towards mutual goals through a shared vision.
H.E. Ahmed Humaid Al-Tayer, the Governor of DIFC, praised the unique bilateral relations between both countries, describing the MOU as a product of this cooperation in diverse fields, especially in the legal arena.
"Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have distinguished and profound relationships in different fields. The MOU between the Jordanian Ministry of Justice and DIFC Courts will help to enhance cooperation between both countries, especially in the legal field. The DIFC Courts' Common Law expertise stands out in the region and is significant as it serves to attract international investment, with international companies attracted by the rules and international legal best practice set up at the DIFC Courts to provide efficient and transparent justice" Al-Tayer said.
Sir Anthony Evans expressed his pleasure at the signing of the DIFC Courts' first international MOU. "This is another step in the fulfillment of the DIFC Courts' strategy to build local and international ties covering aspects of judicial and legal cooperation and focusing on knowledge transfer. I hope that the Courts will further enhance cooperation through future plans and programs to promote the transparency and efficiency of the judicial systems in both countries" said Evans.
"This first official visit to Amman has paved the way for further cooperation. Both jurisdictions understand that an efficient judicial system is fundamental in achieving further investment and economic development".
On his part, H.E. Odeh, stressed the importance of the MOU as a reflection of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries to remain up to date with the latest legal and judicial information. H.E. Odeh also pointed out the improvements achieved in recent years following the strategy of developing the Jordanian judiciary through the establishment of specialised judicial facilities, managing judicial systems electronically, lifting the strain on courts, shortening terms of litigation procedures, and maintaining the Future Judges Program and the Jordanian Judicial Institute's ongoing development and training programs.
Following the signing of the MoU, the delegation met with the General Manager of the Judicial Institute of Jordan, Judge Mansour Al-Hadidy. They watched a presentation on the Institute, the Future Judges Program, Judicial Studies Diploma and other training programs. The delegation met the chairman of Jordan's Judicial Council, and the Chairman of the Jordan Securities Commission to be informed of latest achievements, programs, and development plans.
Jordan and UAE maintain strong bilateral relationships and extradition agreements, as well legal exchange in penal issues.