How can a UK lawyer work in Dubai?

Dec 08, 2022

Written By Annabel Gooden

As a key legal hub in the Middle East, Dubai is a popular destination for lawyers desiring a change of scene. It is a thriving, fast-developing city and a heavyweight on the global economic stage. So, what kinds of opportunities are available for UK lawyers in Dubai and how can you access them?

Trainee Secondments

Working abroad may seem like a far-off prospect but the opportunity may come around far sooner than you expect. Trainee lawyers do not have to wait until they are qualified to move. Many UK law firms offer trainees the chance to complete seats in international offices, including Dubai. International secondments can take up to six months of a typical two-year training contract.

Law firms often actively encourage trainees to complete seats abroad. As part of your experience as a trainee, undertaking an international seat will give you a better understanding of the nature of cross-border legal work. This is an essential aspect of the work at many large firms.

Although it may seem daunting, adapting to life in a new culture will give you valuable career and life experience. It will help you develop transferable skills and qualities that are highly regarded by law firms, resilience and adaptability in particular.

In our interview with Christina Churchman, Graduate Resourcing and Development Manager at White & Case, Christina emphasised how this can benefit trainees’ legal careers in the long term.

While an international secondment will see you work at another of your firm’s office locations, there may also be an opportunity to travel to Dubai with a client secondment. Although these are not advertised so frequently, it is definitely something worth researching during the application process.

Law Firms in Dubai

Looking ahead to training contracts, consider which firms offer international secondments or even entire contracts in Dubai. You should bear in mind that places can be limited and firms cannot always guarantee you will get to work in your location of choice. If Dubai is your preference, applying to a firm with a strong UAE presence is a good place to start.

You certainly won’t struggle to find firms to apply to. The firms offering a seat in Dubai include: DLA Piper, CMS, BCLP, Addleshaw Goddard, Hogan Lovells and Clifford Chance.

A UK firm with one of the oldest presences in the UAE is real-estate focused firm, Trowers & Hamlins, which opened its Dubai office in 1991. The firm offers seats in one of four offices in the Middle East. Aside from Dubai, trainees can work in Abu Dhabi, Bahrain or Oman. At some firms you can also apply directly to training contracts in Dubai.

CMS’ Dubai training contract is based in the UAE for three seats with one seat completed elsewhere. At Clifford Chance, Middle East trainees split their time 50-50 between London and either Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Riyadh. Note that requirements may differ for these positions. For example, at Herbert Smith Freehills, Dubai based trainees must be fluent in Arabic.

Whatever the firm, expect client work to be commercially focused and connected to Dubai’s key industries. The economy in the UAE is heavily reliant on natural resources, energy, retail, real estate and tourism so expect to interact with clients in these sectors. It’s a good idea to brush up on your understanding of these sectors for interviews.

Practising as a UK Lawyer in Dubai

You may be wondering how you can practise as a foreign lawyer. Dubai has its own courts system and there are restrictions in place, for example on who can advocate in court. UK lawyers (and lawyers from other jurisdictions) can practise local law without needing to convert. However, only Dubai nationals can appear in court.

Arabic is the official language of Dubai but English is widely spoken and is predominant in business environments. Nevertheless, it’s worth learning some basic Arabic.

You will find that commercial disputes and corporate deals are usually governed by UK or UK-based law. Rather than bringing cases in the local courts, disputes lawyers often specialise in International Arbitration or Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) litigation.

Some firms, such as White & Case, allow trainees to work in their Middle Eastern seats permanently when they become newly-qualified. Whether this is possible in Dubai will depend on the decisions taken by the particular firm at the time you qualify.

If you do wish to practise internationally after training, think about which practice areas will be in highest-demand. This will be especially relevant when applying for NQ positions and planning your career in the long-term. In Dubai, key practice areas include: Corporate, Commercial, Projects and Construction, Banking and Finance, and Dispute Resolution.

For more on life at White & Case’s Dubai office, read our article on life in the Middle East and the interview with Ali Shaikley.

Working in Law Abroad