Dubai
I was delighted to be selected as the Pegasus Scholar to the UAE. The scholarship involved spending three months in Dubai: one month with the DIFC Courts, and two months with Al Tamimi & Company (“Al Tamimi”), one of the region’s leading commercial law firms.
The first month of the scholarship was spent at the DIFC Courts. I was made to feel extremely welcome from the outset and was fortunate to be involved in a wide variety of cases and projects. I attended hearings, reviewed judgments, and provided legal commentary on matters ranging from freezing injunctions to a multi-million-dirham dispute arising out of the construction of the Museum of the Future. It was fascinating to see a common law court operating within the wider legal and commercial context of the UAE.
Outside of the courtroom, one of the most substantial projects I worked on at the DIFC Courts was an update to the Rules of the DIFC Courts (the jurisdiction’s equivalent of the CPR). This work focused in particular on the impact of the New DIFC Courts Law. I also supported the Registry with internal court initiatives, including preparing a presentation for the Annual Judges’ Meeting and drafting committee charters. It was a real privilege to see the work of a court from the inside: not only in terms of individual cases, but also in terms of the wider procedural, administrative, and strategic work that allows a court to function effectively.
After my month at the DIFC Courts, I moved to Al Tamimi & Company, where I worked mainly with the international litigation team, while also spending time with the international arbitration team. This gave me the opportunity to see cross-border disputes from a different perspective. At the DIFC Courts, I had seen cases from the judicial side. At Al Tamimi, I was able to see how complex disputes are managed and fought from the perspective of the lawyers advising the parties.
The work at Al Tamimi was varied and interesting. The matters I worked on involved a broad range of underlying disputes, including civil fraud, shareholder disputes and contractual claims. Procedurally, I also gained experience of applications for injunctive relief, including freezing orders, as well as enforcement proceedings. One afternoon I found myself researching Kuwaiti law; on another, comparing the position under common and civil law systems. At first, the scale of the disputes and the number of potentially relevant jurisdictions can feel intimidating. However, I quickly found that the essential discipline remains the same: step back, identify the core issues, work out which law applies and why, and only then start digging into the detail. The experience I gained helped me to develop my confidence and demystify complex, high-value international work, making it feel much more accessible.
One of the things I appreciated most at both the DIFC Courts and Al Tamimi was how friendly and welcoming everyone was. I was involved in interesting work, but I also had the opportunity to attend networking events, meet lawyers working across the region, and learn more about the legal market in Dubai. It is an extremely international environment, both in terms of the people working there and the disputes themselves so it was a very exciting place to be.
It would be impossible to write about my time in the region without mentioning the conflict that escalated while I was there. I happened to be in Qatar for a short weekend trip when the situation changed very suddenly. I had flown there straight after work on a Friday with a small overnight bag, intending to return to Dubai on the Sunday evening in time for work on Monday. On the Saturday morning, I woke up to the news of strikes on Iran. Within hours, emergency alerts were being sent to phones, the airspace had completely closed, and missiles were visible overhead.
After two weeks of being stranded in Qatar, I was assisted by the UAE authorities in returning safely to Dubai, which involved travelling by land overnight via Saudi Arabia. It was certainly not an experience I had expected, but it gave me something of a “wartime story”!
The Pegasus Trust very kindly offered me the opportunity to return to the UK early. I decided not to do so. I still felt safe, I was still enjoying the placement, and I was still able to continue working and exploring.
At the same time, I was conscious that for many people in the region, the conflict was not surreal or anecdotal, but devastatingly real. I felt very fortunate to have been kept safe and well informed, and very grateful to everyone who helped me during that period.
Looking back, the placement was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career so far. I gained exposure to complex international disputes, high-value litigation and arbitration, court administration, and procedural reform. I became more confident and more willing to take on challenges that might once have intimidated me, both in my professional and my personal life.
I came away with a much deeper interest in international commercial work, and with a real affection for Dubai, the UAE and the wider region. I am extremely grateful to the Pegasus Scholarship Trust, the DIFC Courts, Al Tamimi & Company, and everyone who welcomed, supported and encouraged me throughout the placement. It was an unforgettable experience, and I very much hope to return to the UAE soon.
Colleen Cumbers
Crown Office Chambers