New qualifications, offered by the British University of Dubai are soon to be available in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, the University of Manchester, Cardiff University, and the University of Glasgow in the UK.
The British legal community has spoken out about their concerns with the involvement of the DIAC and its chairman, Habib Al Mulla. Al Mulla, the CEO of Baker Mackenzie in the UAE is reportedly responsible, for serious legal malpractice against British nationals that would see him disbarred and imprisoned in the UK. The British and Irish Commercial Bar Association cancelled their joint seminar with the DIAC after public outrage from British lawyers.
Currently, Al Mulla is facing international criticism for an alleged recent case in which he is said to have illegally represented both parties in proceedings more than twenty times despite having no mandate from either party to do so.
Accusations awaiting reply from global leading law firm Baker McKenzie, include Al Mulla falsifying and then validating in court, a confession of embezzlement for an individual he was not retained to represent and then going on to prosecute the same defendant using the falsified confession. In simple terms, Al Mulla appears to have acted as the plaintiff in civil proceedings for a client he never had; the sole purpose of this outrageously bold act, was to confess to a crime on behalf of someone, then use the civil court judgement as evidence to open criminal allegations, ultimately leading to the misappropriation of 250 million pounds.
British authorities are also apprehensive about the upcoming UAE International Education Week (18th to 23rd October 2017) which is “aimed at attracting transnational students to the UAE”, also in close partnership with DIAC.
International Education Week seeks to attract thousands of young international students who could be at risk from the unforgiving UAE legal system and associated human rights abuses. Ongoing cases, like that of 21 year old Ahmad Zeidan who is serving a nine year prison sentence for allegedly possessing cocaine worth less than £5 serve as a worrying reminder of how easily a young person’s life can change in The UAE. Zeidan claims, along with many others before him, that he was brutally tortured into signing a false confession, written in Arabic, a language he does not understand.
The UAE also mandates jail terms for swearing, rudeness, drunkenness and sex outside of marriage.
Radha Stirling, CEO and founder of NGO Detained in Dubai released the following statement: “The UAE’s immature legal system should not be presented as an example for young and impressionable minds. We also advise parental caution about sending teenagers or young adults to an environment where youthful exuberance can have life changing consequences