The move has been enthusiastically welcomed by Dr. Omar Bin Sulaiman, Director General of the DIFC Authority, who saw it as an important step for both the development of the DIFC and for Swiss legal firms planning to operate in Dubai.

“I am delighted to welcome Swiss International Legal Consultants to the DIFC," Dr Sulaiman remarked.

He continued:

"This is a very important announcement for the DIFC, as it is important for the development of the DIFC to have legal consultants of the calibre of Swiss International Legal Consultants.

"Swiss institutions have been very quick to pick up on the opportunity provided by the DIFC and there are few more important markets for us. The presence of professional services firms such as Swiss Legal Consultants is an obvious boon to the Swiss firms already here and those planning to apply for a license."

Swiss International Legal Consultants is related to International Legal Consultants in Deira, Dubai, a Swiss law firm, which has been active in Dubai for 5 years and which has a sister company in Singapore. The parent firm, Ritter Attorneys-at-Law, is situated in the banking centre of Zurich, Switzerland.

Urs Stirnimann, Managing Director of the Swiss firm, observed that: "I am delighted to accept this license from the DFSA and I look forward to a long and prosperous future operating from within the DIFC."

"Members of our team have been active in this region since 20 years and are thus able to provide our clients with an unparalleled degree of knowledge and understanding, combining an international outlook and expertise with local sensitivity," Mr Stirnimann stated.

Swiss International Legal Consultants will provide legal services to financial institutions, which are situated in the DIFC. In addition, it will offer compliance services.