The International Court of Justice, the UN's highest court, said on Thursday it would hear a dispute between Malaysia and Singapore over sovereignty of a tiny island off the Malaysian coast in November next year.

Malaysia and Singapore had asked the court in July 2003 to rule on who could lay claim to the tiny island of Pulau Batu Puteh, also known as Pedra Branca, and its two rocky outcrops, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

The football-field sized island is considered important for its strategic position and the impact it can have on the fixing of territorial marine boundaries in the Johor Strait.

The Hague-based court was created 60 years ago to deal with disputes between states. Its rulings are final and without appeal but the court has no means of enforcing them.

It usually takes years from the time the first claim is filed for the court to hand down a ruling.