Deal between ADGM and federal courts strengthens judicial system

Abu Dhabi Global Market, the capital’s new financial free zone, has clinched a deal with the UAE Ministry of Justice that will allow for reciprocal enforcement of judgments and arbitration decisions in the wider legal system.

A memorandum of understanding between ADGM and the ministry covers a wide range of legal matters. “In particular they have agreed to take all necessary measures to ensure the enforcement of ADGM Courts’ judgments and ADGM arbitral awards before the federal courts in the UAE, without examining the substance of the dispute,” ADGM said.

The agreement will make for a faster and more efficient structure for enforcing legal decisions across the UAE, and follows a similar deal with the Abu Dhabi courts last month.

The chief justice of ADGM Courts, David Hope, said: “The relationship that has been formed with the ministry through this MoU is of tremendous significance. It records the strong and enduring commitment to work together to strengthen the community’s confidence in the UAE judicial system, particularly by providing accessible and outstanding service to all litigants and by bolstering judicial cooperation at local, federal, regional and international levels.”

The collaboration will continue to maintain the integrity of and greatly increase the widely held confidence in the judicial systems of the UAE, he added.

Mohammed bin Hamad Al Badi, the undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice, said that the “objectives of the memorandum extend to the exchange of information and research in the judicial, legal, academic and technical fields, and develop the capacity and the skills and expertise of the judges and their assistants, and the establishment of a strategic partnership to promote understanding and community awareness”.

Stephen Forster, the head of the Abu Dhabi office of the Al Tamimi law firm, said: “It is encouraging. With this second MoU someone with an ADGM judgment will be able to approach the federal courts directly instead of going through the Abu Dhabi courts.”

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