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Middle East

Here we include information pertaining to:

- Abu Dhabi
- Qatar
- Dubai
- Saudi Arabia
- Bahrain & Oman

 

 

Opportunities available

Principal areas of practice include:

• Corporate/commercial
• Projects/Project Finance
• Energy
• Banking and Finance
• Dispute Resolution
• Commercial Property
• IT/IP

As with any move abroad the majority of opportunities exist in private practice, with both national and international law firms. However, opportunities do exist in-house with a growing number of international corporates and local companies.

Most positions arise for lawyers with up to seven years’ post-qualification experience, but we have placed a significant number of lawyers at more senior levels. The calibre of lawyers moving to the Middle East is high; good academic records and a background with a well regarded international practice are usually needed. Although Arabic is not essential (English being the language of the business world), firms and companies are particularly keen to recruit Arabic speakers. As firms have grown bigger, they have increasingly become able to support junior lawyers within the office and have also become capable of handling the bigger deals themselves, instead of relying on the London office.

In law firms, client development is actively encouraged so lawyers must be confident and outgoing individuals since, as well as serving existing clients, you will be expected to assist in the growth of the practice. The Middle East is ideal for those who enjoy involvement in the broader business issues of transactions but who also wish to handle high quality legal work.

Remuneration & Benefits

Remuneration in the region is varied. In similarity to other jurisdictions (with the exceptions of the financial institutions and energy-related companies), in-house tends to pay less than private practice.

In the international law firms, lawyers normally receive remuneration equivalent to London gross salaries, tax free. The days of the expat package including housing and car and club allowances has faded away but the base salary has risen to replace these previous "add-ons". The local law firms do pay at a lower rate, sometimes, up to 20% less, but the hours and work pressures are likely to be less strenuous.

The significant, recent reduction in rents across the Middle East has made such packages more attractive again, after a period of time when rents threatened to eat into the salaries on offer. Holiday entitlement ranges from 25-30 days. The additional holiday reflects the fact that most Westerners leave in August when the temperature becomes too hot. Most companies/firms will provide health and life insurance as well, although the cost of schooling is not provided in the law firms and is rare in companies.

In the UAE and other places, a gratuity is paid in lieu of a pension. This is an end-of-service lump sum based on final salary. Most firms and companies will offer you a relocation allowance. Accommodation rents vary according to size and location. A typical large two-bedroom apartment will cost approximately US$20,000 – US$30,000/annum in Dubai. Rents tend to be more expensive than this in Abu Dhabi and Qatar and less so in places such in Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Lifestyle

Most regions that have an international business community have large ex-pat communities (particularly Dubai) and there are plenty of recreational activities to cater for most tastes. Sports opportunities are plentiful, with excellent golfing, sailing, rugby, health and fitness facilities on offer. There is also the opportunity to partake in more local activities, such as driving four-wheeled drive jeeps through the desert or shopping in the world famous souks or malls of Dubai. Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Muscat in Oman, Manama in Bahrain and Qatar are safe and relatively crime free.

In-house

In-house is becoming an ever more possible proposition for lawyers in the Middle East. Organisations that previously had their EMEA Counsel based in London are taking advantage of the available tax breaks and other advantages to have their Counsel based in the region.

In the UAE, firms/companies always required a local sponsor in order to do business. However, there are now free-trade zones within which 100% foreign-owned companies can establish themselves and trade under a liberal regulatory framework, where they can benefit from exemptions to corporate and income tax and customs duties. There are now eleven such zones such as Dubai Media City, Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Sports City.

Given the importance of understanding how business is done in the Middle East, companies usually look to the lawyers who have experience in the region to take as their Counsel and so the majority of roles in-house go to the lawyers on the ground. Both local and international companies are keen to obtain the services of lawyers with a Western-style training.

FAQs

With the exception of Saudi Arabia, female lawyers can work in the Middle East and Western law firms and companies and top local firms will have a number of female lawyers working for them. English is the spoken language of the business world. Occasionally, firms will ask for an Arabic speaker who may be recruited to deal with particular clients. Arabic is an advantage rather than a prerequisite. You can drink alcohol in all countries except Saudi Arabia. The working week is Sunday to Thursday, although some businesses follow the Western week of Monday to Friday.

For further information on the legal market and job opportunities in the Middle East please contact your nearest Taylor Root office:

London:
Mark Walters E: markwalters@taylorroot.com T: +44 (0)20 7415 2828

Dubai:
Shane Morton E: shanemorton@taylorroot.com T: +9714 448 7770

Hong Kong: 
Mark Coates E: markcoates@taylorroot.com.hk T: +852 2973 6333

Sydney: 
Karlie Connellan E: karlieconnellan@taylorroot.com.au T: +61 (0)2 9236 9000

Melbourne:
Tim Fogarty E: timfogarty@taylorroot.com.au T: +61 (0)3 8610 8400