Amna Al Owais is the Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts and provides high level support to operations, the administration of the Registries, as well as the delivery of a comprehensive suite of ancillary court public services. Amna spearheads special projects across DIFC Courts operations, particularly in the field of technology and innovation, harnessing digital transformation for core courts services, including major partnerships under the Courts of the Future initiative with the Dubai Future Foundation, such as Court Tech Lab and the Courts of Space, in addition to Court of the Blockchain with Dubai Digital Authority and the creation of the Digital Economy Court specialised Division. In addition to her role as Chief Registrar of the DIFC Courts, Amna is also Chairperson of the DIFC Courts’ Users’ Committee, Chairperson 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 September 2019, Amna was also appointed to the College of Law Advisory Board of the University of Dubai. 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 in 2019 by Arabian Business, The Middle East’s 100 Power Businesswomen by Forbes Middle East in 2020, and the CEO Women of Influence in 2021, and 50 Inspiring Female Business Leaders in 2022 by Arabian Business. Amna was also featured in Arabian Business’ 50 Inspiring Women Leaders 2023. Lexis Nexis also recognised Amna in 2022 as Legal Services Innovator of the Year at the Women in Law Awards and received honourable mention for the Professional Achievement Award. Amna was also included in the 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen 2023 by Forbes Middle East. In 2019, Amna was invited to join the Dubai Future Councils, a new initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Dubai Future Foundation. Consisting of 13 councils, its main mandate is to envisage the future agenda of Dubai in strategic sectors and launch initiatives with both private and public sector partners to create the foundation for that future. Amna specifically plays an active role in the membership of the Dubai Future Council on Entrepreneurship & Innovation Ecosystems. Launched in 2019 by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance, Amna was also selected by the University Leadership Council and Patheon Assas-Université Paris II to be in the first cohort of the International Business Law LLM and graduated summa cum laude in 2020, making it her second Master’s degree. In January 2023, Amna was also appointed as a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Patheon Assas-Université Paris II, Dubai Campus. Amna has also successfully completed the Director Development Programme for Corporate Governance (4 modules) provided by the prestigious Hawkamah Institute in 2019 and in 2020 Amna was selected to join the inaugural members of Pathway2020, a regional board career accelerator dedicated solely to building the pipeline of highly competent female board directors and connecting them to boards of listed and large-scale private companies. In 2021, Amna was accepted to join the selective Strategic Leadership and Public Governance course provided by the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). The Programme is provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Singapore in collaboration with the international embassies, who then coordinated with the Singaporean consulate in each country to nominate qualified personnel. In 2023, Amna was selected to join the Dubai Future Fellowship, an initiative launched by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF). The programme aims to engage current and future economic leaders to contribute towards shaping Dubai’s policies, regulations, and business practices and further enhancing the city’s leading regional and global role as an incubator for the most promising innovators of the future. Previous to her employment at the DIFC Courts, Amna practiced as a lawyer in the litigation department with Hadef & Partners, formerly Hadef Al Dhahiri & Associates. Amna holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Law from the University of Sharjah and obtained a Master’s Degree (LLM) with Commendation in International Commercial Law from Kingston University, London.

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