Amna Al Owais is currently the Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts and oversees operations and quality management, supervising the Courts’ Judicial Officers and Registry personnel, as well as the delivery of a comprehensive suite of court public services. Amna also spearheads special projects across DIFC Courts operations, particularly in the field of technology and innovation, harnessing digital transformation for core courts services, including a major partnership project across blockchain with Smart Dubai and a court tech R&D initiative with Dubai Future Foundation.

In addition to her role as Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts, Amna is also Registrar of the Special Tribunal Related to Dubai World, Chairwoman of the DIFC Courts’ Users’ Committee, Chairwoman of the DIFC Courts’ In-House Counsel Committee, and a member of the Consulting Council for the University of Sharjah College of Law. In 2014, Amna was appointed to the Advisory Board of the International Bar Association’s Access to Justice and Legal Aid Committee.

In 2014, Amna was selected to join the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development (MBRCLD) – the Young Leaders category, and furthermore in 2018 after the relaunch of the MBRCLD, under the Dubai Executive Office and after an extensive selection process, Amna was selected to join the first batch of the MBRCLD Impactful Leaders Programme. Amna successfully graduated in December 2018.

Amna has played a key part in the establishment and development of the DIFC Courts and creation of the Dispute Resolution Authority in 2014. She also spearheaded the establishment of the DIFC Courts’ Pro Bono Programme, launched in 2009, which is the first scheme of its kind in the Middle East. In 2011 Amna was recognised by the International Bar Association as one of the Top 3 young lawyers in the world and was listed in the Top 50 Most Influential Women in the Arab World and in the Top 100 Influential People Helping to Shape the Emirate of Dubai by Arabian Business in 2018. Amna was also awarded Legal Services CEO of the Year at the Arabian Business CEO magazine Awards in 2018 and listed among the Top 30 Most Influential Women in the Arab World by Arabian Business magazine in 2019 and The Middle East’s 100 Power Businesswomen by Forbes Middle East in 2020.

Fatima creates policies and strategies that shape the path towards reaching our dreams in outer space, and works to implement them in a way to ensure that we walk on this path with determination and courage, looking forward to our bright future. She is interested in developing the space sector’s role in supporting the UAE’s knowledge based economy. At the UAE Space Agency, she is the acting head of Space Regulations and Policy section. Her core duties includes supporting the development and governance of the National Space Strategy 2030, and the development of reports related to space economy and sustainability.

Fatima is currently representing the space sector as a member in the National Experts Program, a Launchpad for Emirati experts and technical leaders to develop and hone their capabilities to best shape the future of critical sectors, empowering them with the strategic mindsets, knowledge and tools to drive the sectors’ ongoing development, and contribute to the economic growth and future prosperity of the nation.

Prior to her role in the agency, Fatima worked as a strategist and a research engineer in Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, Khalifa University, and the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*Star) in Singapore where she received the Singapore International Pre-Graduate Award for Academic Excellence. Fatima Holds a Master Degree in Computing and Information Science from Khalifa University with first degree honors, and a Bachelor Degree in Security and Network Technologies from Zayed University.

Andrew has over 20 years of specialist Digital & Data experience in a sophisticated legal and regulatory environment. He is a telecoms expert and has become one of the leading specialists in the Middle East on cloud-based technology deals, including government procurement and information security requirements in regards to cloud services. Andrew frequently interacts and holds strong relationships with local federal government departments and regulators.

Andrew has advised major clients on a variety of complex contractual issues and commercial transactions, especially in connection with the launch of new platforms and services. He has assisted government departments and government-owned entities in diversification projects that invest in technological developments and improve innovation. He also provides important UAE local law advisory services to multinationals (either directly or through international law firms) in respect of their TMT sector plans in the Middle East.

Courtney Sader is General Counsel for Raytheon Emirates ltd. and Raytheon Saudi Arabia where she serves as a member of the leadership team for both companies and is responsible for managing all legal matters including prime and subcontractor procurements, offsets and other transactions, corporate governance, joint ventures, human resources, and anti-corruption compliance.