The General Secretariat of the Supreme Legislation Committee in the Emirate of Dubai (SLC) signed recently a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai Chamber. The MoU aims to enhance legal, institutional, and research cooperation; and to combine the capabilities of both parties to boost the legal system and contribute to the development of Dubai’s and the UAE’s legislative structure. The MoU was signed by H.E. Ahmad Saeed bin Meshar Al Muhairi, SLC Secretary General; and H.E. Hamad Mubarak Buamim, Director General of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. During the ceremony, both parties emphasized the shared aspirations to provide all necessary support to improve the legal, institutional, and research performance and harness the potential of partnerships in driving the ambitious development process.
The MoU focuses on strengthening cooperation between the two entities in the development of legislation, its optimal implementation, strengthening of the legal system, and enhancing institutional work. Under this MoU, the two parties will propose and study the draft legislation that supports the achievement of Dubai’s sustainable development plans. They will also involve representatives from the private sector in the development of the legislative process, where they will make comments and proposals on the draft business-related legislation under consideration at the governmental, local, and federal levels. The two parties also agreed to cooperate in the field of legal training and exchange of legal expertise to ensure the optimal implementation of legislation.
Bin Meshar explained that cooperation with the Dubai Chamber reflects the SLC commitment to build effective partnerships with concerned entities in the Emirate of Dubai and the UAE, in order to involve these entities in the development of a legal and legislative system that enhances readiness for the future. He further pointed out that the new partnership enhances the participation of private sector representatives in updating legislation in line with toady’s rapid economic changes. These efforts are necessary to establish a proactive legislative and legal environment that attracts businesses and investments, while also driving economic growth and diversification.
Buamim said: “The MoU signifies a true partnership between the public and private sectors, embodying one of the competitive advantages of Dubai’s business community. The private sector has always been a strategic partner in development process and therefore, we believe that involving this sector in the development of legislative and legal system that directly affects their businesses and activities is an important factor in establishing a sustainable, interactive, and favourable business environment.”
Buamim pointed out that the Dubai Chamber has been proactive in proposing and reviewing legislation that improves and supports the business community. He said that the Dubai Chamber reviews an average of 40 federal and local pieces of legislation annually in cooperation with the private sector. These efforts fall within the Dubai Chamber’s goals to create an favourable business environment in Dubai, in line with the aspirations and needs of the private sector, while also giving the business community an additional competitive advantage to attract foreign direct investments.
Buamim added: “The MoU with the SLC is a step forward towards establishing a legislative and legal environment of global standards that keeps pace with the emirate’s efforts to build the future and develop both traditional and new economic sectors. He emphasized that this MoU would enhance joint efforts to effectively deal with the economic challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, in addition to further promoting the competitiveness of Dubai’s business environment.
H.E. Khalfan Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Future Foundation, said: ‘This strategic partnership takes us one step closer to achieving government integration and strengthening cooperation with the private sector to develop a truly modern legislative and legal system that is supportive of Dubai’s leadership and excellence at the international level.” He then pointed out the importance of enhancing legislation to meet both current and future requirements of various vital sectors and to empower national capacity building achieved by providing national professionals with the latest innovation tools and skills of the future, and with an appropriate environment for developing, testing, and implementing innovative ideas.
Belhoul underlined the importance of benefiting from successful government partnerships, such as the ‘Dubai 10X’ initiative, which contributed to consolidating the concept of future foresight among work teams of Dubai government entities, and provided them with an opportunity to participate in innovative and unconventional projects involving the latest technology. These efforts also helped in exploring new solutions to many legislative, logistic, and economic challenges, thereby contributing to positioning Dubai as a leading city of the future and one of the cities most prepared to deal with unforeseen challenges.
He added: “We will continue to work with our partners in the government and private sectors to come up with new ideas and visions to further develop the legislative and legal system and consider it the main pillar of progress and development during the coming period, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to harmonize plans and develop strategies and policies that anticipate future changes.”
The MoU also provides for conducting and publishing legal research and studies, and for participation in development projects in legal work or in areas supporting legal work, with an emphasis on exchanging legal and institutional publications and research that would enrich legislative knowledge and strengthen the legislative system. The two parties will also work on exchanging institutional experiences and strengthening institutional training, in addition to participating in conferences, seminars, and workshops organized by either of them.
