Supreme Legislation Committee examines best global legislation practices during recently concluded USA visit

UAE, 1 November 2015 – A high-ranking delegation from the Dubai’s Supreme Legislation Committee headed by the Secretary General, H.E. Ahmad bin Meshar Al Muhairi has recently conducted a visit to the United States of America, to look into the country’s best practices and exchange experience on the enhancement of the legislative system with their counterparts at the local level in California and New York, and at the federal level in Washington DC. The visit reflects the Supreme Legislation Committee’s commitment to establish effective cooperation with global pioneers in the legislative and legal sectors to create an integrated legislative system that helps strengthen Dubai’s legal system in line with the government’s sustainable development vision. The delegation comprised Dr. Mansoor Al Osaimi, Director of the Legislation Directorate, and Morshed Al Mulla, Manager of the Secretary General Office, Head of the Creativity and Innovation Team.

The UAE officials began their visit at the California State Senate, in Sacramento. H.E. Abdullah Ali Al-Sabousi, the Consul General at the Consulate General of the UAE in Los Angeles, welcomed the delegation and briefed them about the role and activities of the Consulate in the western part of the USA. H.E. Al Muhairi offered a honorary shield to H.E. Al-Sabousi as a token of appreciation for the Consulate’s warm welcome and unwavering efforts to reinforce the economic and cultural ties between the UAE and the USA.

During their visit to the California State Senate, the delegation also met with Shannon Schlumberger, Undersecretary for International Relations Office; ‎Seher Keval, Program Consultant at California State Senate Office of International Relations; Bernadette McNulty, Chief Assistant Secretary of the Senate, who gave an overview of California’s legislative process; and Diane Bauer, ‎Regulatory Compliance Counsel, who discussed the legislative drafting procedures.

The UAE delegation also tackled commercial and economic developments and economic legislation procedures with Andrew Store Miflis, Vice President for Governmental and Legislation Affairs, and Leslie McBride, Deputy Director of Business Investment Services at the Governor's Office of Business & Economic Development to look into the economic legislation and relevant procedures. Leonor Ehling, Director at the Senate Office of Research, meanwhile, provided a detailed presentation on the office’s research works as well as the regulatory procedures being applied to local and federal legislation. The visit ended by granting a honorary shield to the Office of International Affairs.

H.E. Al Muhairi said: “We will continue to explore new and fruitful horizons of cooperation with the US legislative and legal sectors to benefit from the successful global practices and experiences by enacting laws that reflect the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to reinforce Dubai’s leading global position.”

He added: “The visit enabled us to learn about the best legislative practices being observed in the USA and other developed countries. It is also significant in terms of building bridges of cooperation and establishing new channels for the exchange of knowledge and best practices with leading regional and international legislative bodies. This falls in line with our aim to build a legal and legislative system that is in harmony with Dubai’s vision of catapulting the emirate and the rest of the UAE into the highest global legislative ranks.”

“Our visit to the USA comes as a response to the directives of H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Chairman of the Supreme Legislation Committee, to build strong local, regional, and international relationships to help us reach our strategic goals of improving the UAE’s legislative processes and build a practical and forward-looking legislative system,” Bin Meshar concluded.