Masters in construction law to address sector's concerns

Dubai :Training and sharing experience with Emirati judges is a point of interest between the Dubai Courts Department (DCD) and the Centre of Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at King's College London (KCL), a visiting professor announced yesterday.

"We can always invite professors over here to benefit judges. It is very easy to imagine cooperation between the DCD and KCL. There are many possibilities worth exploring in that sense… we do have the interest in being helpful to judges and experts herein. We can also explore this avenue for further cooperation," said the college's visiting professor Philip Britton during an agreement-signing ceremony at the DCD.

Opportunity

His statement came in reply to a Gulf News question during the ceremony in which the DCD and the British University in Dubai (BUiD) launched a Masters of Science (MSc) in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution.

Britton said Dubai serves as an interesting crossroads between local and Sharia law applied to the construction sector and represents an opportunity to explore the similarities and differences in this area.

DCD's General Director Dr Ahmad Bin Hazeem and BUiD's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abdullah Al Shamsi signed the agreement which is under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates airline and group and BUiD's Chairman.

Dr Bin Hazeem applauded the role of the BUiD in building a new generation of higher level education and culture.

"DCD supports such initiatives for their substantial benefits to all parties, and this cooperation won't be the last with premier educational organisations," he said.

The construction industry in the Middle East is growing at unprecedented rates and in today's economic climate, there is an essential need for experts in related fields, said Professor Al Shamsi.

"With the support of the DCD and leading construction and law organisations, our new MSc in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution will develop combined expertise in law and construction, further developing local regional talent and providing the knowledge required as a complement to the industry's rapid development," added the BUiD's Vice Chancellor.

He added KCL is the academic partner of BUiD for this programme.

BUiD's MSc in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution, which will begin accepting applications this month for the February 2010 intake, is aimed at practising lawyers, engineers, architects, surveyors and those in related disciplines.

Legal expertise

At the launch, Professor Al Shamsi signed the agreement with Dr Bin Hazeem, for the future development of the nation's legal expertise and to contribute to related professional development in the UAE.

The MSc programme, which is accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, is offered in association with the KCL's Centre of Construction Law.