Courts of Space Moot Court Competition: Unveiling the First Rounds of a Unique Space Dispute
The Courts of Space Moot Court officially commenced on 7 May 2024, marking the beginning of an exciting journey into the world of legal advocacy and simulation.
As a joint initiative of the DIFC Courts and the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), this prestigious competition brings together young aspiring legal minds from diverse backgrounds to showcase their expertise in moot court proceedings.
The DIFC Courts inaugurated the competition with a virtual opening ceremony led by Amna Al Owais, Chief Registrar of DIFC Courts and lead owner of the Courts of Space initiative. Al Owais warmly welcomed the 24 teams participating in the preliminary, quarter-final, and semi-final rounds unfolding over the 7th, 8th, and 9th of May 2024, and joining from 24 universities around the world. In addition, more than 59 judges (lawyers, consultants, and experts in Law) joined the competition. As she closed the ceremony, Al Owais encouraged the students to “give their best, remember to have fun, and enjoy the ride.”
Reminder of the Moot Court problem
Artemis Astrotheia, a yoga YouTuber, is suing SolarDream, a Dubai-based space tourism company offering space retreats. After contracting a Covid-19 variant, Artemis's trip is cut short to four days instead of the planned ten. Artemis did not disclose her pre-trip headaches on SolarDream's medical forms but admitted them in a YouTube video afterward, leading SolarDream to countersue for breach of contract.
The competition counted a total of 14 virtual preliminary rounds and opposed teams taking on the role of the Claimant (Artemis) and Defendant (SolarDream) legal representatives. For each one of them, the competition is a unique chance to put into practice both academic learning and extra-academic research in the fictional courtroom. The judging panel appreciated the teams’ legal prowess and strategic argumentation, evaluating the strength of the reasoning, argumentation, and presentation skills of the teams and issuing a score.
As the outcome of the preliminary rounds, eight teams were short-listed (ranking by total score):
1. Middlesex University Dubai 2
2. Middlesex University Dubai 1
3. University of Bolton 1
4. Gujarat National Law University
5. ADA University
6. Hamad Bin Khalifa University
7. Maharashtra National Law University
8. University of Calabar
As the competition moved to its next stage, the virtual quarter-finalists continued to engage in rigorous debates, demonstrating great confidence and composure. Following the same logic, the panel evaluated teams and their feedback was positive: the teams excelled by demonstrating strong organization, comprehensive knowledge of the facts and law, effective utilization of authorities, and persuasive reasoning. Their presentations were clear, well-paced, and highlighted excellent teamwork.
As the outcome of the quarter-finals, judges pointed out a “close call between teams given the remarkable performances”. Four teams were short-listed (ranking by total score):
1. Gujarat National Law University
2. Hamad Bin Khalifa University
3. ADA University
4. Maharashtra National Law University
The teams will be welcomed on 21 May 2024 in Dubai for the semi-finals and finals, where they will advocate in-person. While the spotlight is on the last stages of the competition, it is important to note that the moot court is an invaluable practical experience for all the participants who took part in this year’s edition. During the closing ceremony, all students were encouraged to participate in the next competitions, and even consider joining DIFC Courts in the near future.
Stay tuned for Middle East Space Monitor coverage of the finale, as we witness the rising stars of the legal realm showcase their skills in pursuit of victory.
Streamings of the preliminary and quarter-finals are available to watch of DIFC Courts YouTube account: watch here