United Arab Emirates Contribution from CoCom Department of Al Tamimi & Co., Dubai* 1 CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE LAW 1.1 Federal National Council Elections Decision No. 4 of 2006 by the Supreme Council and Decision No. 3 of 2006 by the President of the United Arab Emirates amended the method of selecting repre- sentatives from each of the Emirates to the Federal National Council. The Federal National Council, consisting of 40 members, is established pursuant to Chapter IV of the Constitution. Following these amendments allowing the appointment of half its members by way of an electoral body in each Emirate, the first elections to the Federal National Council took place in each of the Emirates during December 2006. 2 SOURCES OF LAW: JUDICIAL AND LEGAL SYSTEM 2.1 Official opening of Dubai International Financial Centre Courts On 17 April 2007, the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts were officially inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The DIFC Courts have been operational since 2005, presided by Sir Anthony Evans, Chief Justice of DIFC Courts, and Judge Michael Hwang SC, Deputy Chief Justice of DIFC Courts. The DIFC Courts has its own facilities and court room located within the Dubai International Financial Centre and the DIFC rules of court are based on English civil procedure rules. 3 CIVIL LAW There have been no significant developments in the relevant period. 355 * Advocates and Legal Consultants Dubai. The contribution is by the Department and includes input from Hassan Arab, Omar Obeidat, and Philip Punwar.