Former Chief Justice Frank Clarke and former High Court President Peter Kelly have been sworn in as judges of the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts.
They were sworn in, along with two other judges, at a virtual ceremony before Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.
The UAE's English language newspaper, the Khaleej Times, reported that Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the importance of constantly enhancing the DIFC’s judicial framework in order to further raise the confidence of the local and global business community.
He also stressed the significance of upholding the rule of law, as well as "maintaining the highest transparency and neutrality in the settlement of commercial and civil disputes, in accordance with the highest global benchmarks".
It also reported that the four judges expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the DIFC courts.
The courts are based in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
They were established in 2004 to administer a common law, English language jurisdiction, governing commercial and civil disputes worldwide, catering in particular for international institutions operating in Dubai and the UAE.
Frank Clarke retired as chief Justice in October and was recently appointed chairman of the Law Reform Commission.
Peter Kelly retired as president of the High Court in 2020 but spent many years as the presiding judge in the Commercial Court.
They are the first Irish judges appointed to the court which is mainly made up of retired judges from other jurisdictions including Scotland, England and Wales and Australia.
