The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the wealthiest countries in the Middle East with a population of almost 10 million, 90% of whom are foreigners, and a gross domestic product of approx. 415 billion USD (2021). The GDP per capita is among the highest in the world. The UAE ranks 16th in the Global Competitiveness Index and 8th in the world in the Economic Freedom Index. The UAE is now one of the most liberal economies in the world. As an economic and trade centre for the entire MENA region (Middle East and North Africa), this also makes it one of the region’s most important trading partners for western countries, including Germany.
The UAE respectively has the sixth and seventh largest oil and gas reserves in the world. The cornerstone of the good economic development in recent years has been the high oil price, which has ensured consistently high government revenues. In the process, however, the country is increasingly broadening its economic and industrial foundation in order to make itself independent of oil revenues in the long term. This diversification extends to tourism, the unabated construction boom, an expanding manufacturing economy and a thriving trade and services sector.
We have advised international and local clients in all major areas of commercial law in the United Arab Emirates. Our expertise covers a wide range of market entry, corporate matters, project and transactional guidance, business dissolution and, where appropriate, dispute resolution in litigation and arbitration.
We aim to identify problems at an early stage and solve them in advance. Especially with international contracts and in project management, it is important to be able to act and react quickly.
Through our offices in the heart of Berlin, in France and in Switzerland, as well as our teams and partner law firms in the UAE, Oman and Qatar, we are always happy to advise you on site or discuss the status of your projects via video conference. We are in constant contact with important institutions such as embassies and foreign chambers of commerce.
Our experienced team supports you in all aspects of contract execution and contract management in order to minimise risks and maximise profitability. In addition to contract management, claims management is also one of our areas of expertise. We therefore enforce your claims and defend against opposing claims.
In our role as legal advisors for international contracts and international projects, we see ourselves as a long-term partner advising you on all legal and commercial aspects of your contracts and projects.
Our speciality is advising on project contracts (EPC or joint venture contracts) concluded by German companies abroad.
After identifying the legal framework, we work with you to draw up the relevant project contracts, always taking into account the technical and economic purposes and objectives. We support you in this process through our UAE team on site with many years of local experience.
Our founding partner has played a central role in several large construction and infrastructure projects in many GCC countries. Through his own consulting firm, another partner of our firm has assisted large and medium-sized companies in international projects in the United Arab Emirates. In addition, all of our lawyers have lived and worked abroad and/or have completed legal training there. We have successfully advised on many international projects of all sizes in the UAE.
Our large client base includes numerous international companies from Europe and companies from the German SME sector, which are looking for legal support especially for projects in Africa, the Middle East and the Near East..
Even the most careful preparation of projects and contracts cannot always prevent conflicts from arising. We advise and represent our clients in the out-of-court and contentious settlement of disputes.
However, litigation is expensive, risky and usually unpleasant for all parties involved. In all conflicts, the primary goal should therefore be to reach an out-of-court settlement. We therefore first assist in analysing the costs, risks and chances of success of a conflict as realistically as possible. Building on the experience of many years, we develop the necessary strategy in collaboration with our clients, taking into account the clients’ objectives.
If a dispute cannot be settled out of court, we provide our clients with selected dispute lawyers in ordinary court proceedings and supervise the proceedings. We also provide personal representation in mediation and arbitration proceedings and have many years of experience in proceedings under international (e.g. ICC) and local arbitration rules (e.g. DIS) as well as in investment disputes (ICSID).
One focus of our practice are M&A transactions as well as corporate and commercial matters. We advise on domestic and cross-border transactions, including M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions, acquisitions, investments and the formation of consortia, joint ventures and strategic partnerships.
We advise listed companies as well as small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups on corporate and group law issues, changes in corporate structure and all restructuring measures.
Our many years of experience in the GCC states and the Middle East have enabled us to build up a very good network in the UAE business community. Our founding partner Oliver Alexander has also worked as a lawyer in Qatar for over ten years and is very familiar with the region. In our consultation, we use our many years of experience at the interface between law, business, entrepreneurial interests and local practice.
Whether you are setting up your own UAE branch directly, or taking this second step after a previous international contractual relationship, our highly qualified team can advise you on all aspects of local company formation and help you set up your business in a professional and time-saving manner.
Our firm and on-site teams have advised more than 500 European clients on doing business in the UAE and have experience across a wide range of industries and project types.
We advise you on whether a production site is needed, whether a project company is required, or whether a special purpose vehicle or special purpose company should be set up for an investment, which licences and permits need to be obtained, and on all aspects of labour law, company law and contracts. We always use our experience and short decision-making processes flexibly for the benefit of our clients.
