Dubai Courts successfully concludes 4th Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Moot Court Competition

• Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Initiatives for Legal Excellence honors outstanding law students

• Competition attracts wide participation from UAE & other GCC states

  Dubai Courts recently honoured the winners of the 4^th Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Moot Court Competition held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Judicial Council, with the theme ‘Personal Status Case.’ The recognition took place during the concluding ceremony of the first-of-its-kind Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Maktoum Initiatives for Legal Excellence, an initiative that encourages leadership and excellence within the UAE’s and the region’s legal and judicial systems. H.E. Expert Tarish Eid Al Mansouri, Director General, Dubai Courts, said the successful hosting of the Moot Court Competition over the past few years has made a positive impact on the ongoing efforts to boost investments in the national law system and judicial competencies. He also cited the numerous accomplishments of the Initiatives attained mainly due to the unparalleled support of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed. The Initiatives aim to build a highly-skilled generation capable of promoting the values of justice and consolidating the rule of law in line with the vision and directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Al Mansouri said the 4^th edition of this year’s competition saw a big turnout, with 11 teams from leading law universities and colleges in the UAE and the rest of the GCC actively participating in the contest. The overwhelming response reflects the strong trust and confidence of the local and regional legal communities in the Initiatives, which strive to establish a culture of excellence, creativity and leadership within regional legal and judicial systems to complement economic progress and development. “The Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Moot Court Competition has been playing an effective role in facilitating open dialogues between judicial authorities and law universities in the UAE and the rest of the GCC states. It drives excellence within the judicial and legal systems by helping further improve competencies. One of the competition’s key components is adopting a theoretical and practical approach to develop the participants’ personal and professional skills. Specifically, we aim to improve their competencies in persuasion, analysis, research and derivation through a series of written and oral pleadings involving real and moot court cases. The participants are also given a chance to take part in interactive sessions with high-profile judges. Such a challenge will improve our law students’ competitiveness and leadership skills,” Al Mansouri added.

This year’s winners were honored after the final round which also saw the contenders competing in virtual oral pleadings, similar to real trials, in front of a judicial arbitration panel from Dubai Courts. Team Imam Malik College for Sharia & Law was awarded the Overall Excellence Award followed by Université Saint Joseph Law School and United Arab Emirates University; whereas, Team Université Saint Joseph Law School won the Best Team in Written Submissions Award; and Team United Arab Emirates University bagged the Best Team in Oral Hearing Award. Student Khalifa Ahli received the Most Distinctive Male Student Award, while student Mariam Abd El Salam was given the Most Distinctive Female Student Award.

A total of 11 teams joined the competition’s 4^th edition, nine of which represented leading law universities and colleges in the UAE. The local participants included Imam Malik College for Islamic Shariah and Law, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates University, Police Academy, American University in the Emirates, Emirates Canadian University, University of Jazeera, Université Saint Joseph Law School, and City University College. Some of the participating teams from other GCC states were University of Bahrain from Bahrain and Dar Al-Hekma College from Saudi Arabia. A part of the Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Maktoum Initiatives for Legal Excellence, the Maktoum Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Moot Court Competition is an academic contest aimed at building a well-experienced generation of law students capable of consolidating the principles of justice within the community. Targeting students from top law universities and colleges in the UAE and GCC countries, the competition comprises two phases.  The first phase includes the preparation of written memos on the basis of facts and presumptions, while phase two includes the delivery of oral pleadings in front of a judicial arbitration panel from Dubai Courts.