Divya Abrol Gambhir

Real Estate & Construction and Hotels & Leisure

Real estate, construction, and hospitality are at the forefront of transformation across the Middle East – reshaping cities, driving investment, and demanding increasingly sophisticated legal frameworks.

In the June edition of Law Update, we take a closer look at the legal shifts influencing the sector – from Dubai’s new Real Estate Investment Funds Law and major reforms in Qatar, to Bahrain’s push toward digitalisation in property and timeshare regulation. We also explore practical issues around strata, zoning, joint ventures, and hotel management agreements that are critical to navigating today’s market.

As the landscape becomes more complex, understanding the legal dynamics behind these developments is key to making informed, strategic decisions.

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Eyes
On 2025

Legal Updates in
Middle East & North Africa

2025 is set to be a game-changer for the MENA region, with legal and regulatory shifts from 2024 continuing to reshape its economic landscape. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain are all implementing groundbreaking reforms in sustainable financing, investment laws, labor regulations, and dispute resolution. As the region positions itself for deeper global integration, businesses must adapt to a rapidly evolving legal environment.

Our Eyes on 2025 publication provides essential insights and practical guidance on the key legal updates shaping the year ahead—equipping you with the knowledge to stay ahead in this dynamic market.

The leading law firm in the Middle East & North Africa region.

Divya Abrol Gambhir

Partner

Biography

Divya Abrol Gambhir is part of Al Tamimi & Company’s Banking and Finance Department and heads the Firm’s financial regulatory and securities practice in the UAE. She is an Indian national. She worked with a leading Indian solicitor Firm, working both in the Corporate/Commercial and the Banking & Finance departments. She has also worked with ICICI Bank Ltd. as Manager, Legal in their Corporate Banking Department.

Divya has extensive experience in specialised areas such as the Regulatory Practice, Private Banking, Structured Finance, Capital Markets including Debt Capital Markets in addition to general corporate banking and advisory. She regularly advises on matters relating to licensing of financial institutions and the provision of financial services in the UAE and the DIFC; Banking M&A and restructuring; Conduct of business, compliance and AML matters and on FinTech matters. She has in depth knowledge of the private banking industry and frequently acts for financial institutions in the GCC, Europe and Far East in connection with complex private banking products and structures especially securities holding structures.

In 2005, she was seconded by the Firm to the Dubai International Financial Exchange Ltd (now called Nasdaq Dubai), where she was involved in the legal aspects of setting up the stock exchange including trading, clearing, settlement, membership etc.

Recent Experience

Acting for one of the world’s largest diamantaires, in connection with a unique diamond securitization involving the issuance of secured notes, secured by inventories located in 20 countries worldwide. Our scope was to act as UAE counsel in connection with securing receivables originating in the UAE and with their sale on a cross border basis.
Acting for Bank of Singapore in relation to the transfer of their business operations to the Dubai International Financial Center and obtaining their license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority. Additionally, acting as UAE counsel in relation to Bank of Singapore’s acquisition of Barclay’s wealth and investment business in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Acting for Lloyds Bank in relation to the sale of its UAE Central Bank regulated portfolio to HSBC.
Advising a global provider of payment services on transfer of its business operations into the UAE.