Leith Al-Ali

Level Up: Unlocking Financial Potential In The Middle East

Welcome to this edition of Law Update, where we focus on the ever-evolving landscape of financial services regulation across the region. As the financial markets in the region continue to grow and diversify, this issue provides timely insights into the key regulatory developments shaping banking, investment, insolvency, and emerging technologies.

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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.

Leith Al-Ali

Senior Counsel

Biography

Leith is a Senior Counsel in Al Tamimi & Company’s Construction & Infrastructure practice. Leith is admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales and has practised in a variety of civil law, common law and Sharia law jurisdictions, in the UK and across the Middle East.

Leith is involved in advising clients on both contentious and non-contentious construction and infrastructure matters.

Leith has significant transactional experience advising various UAE, Saudi and UK commercial and residential developers with respect to the suite of construction documentation required in order to develop their property portfolio, including with respect to building contracts (both FIDIC and bespoke), consultant appointments and services agreements, collateral warranties, novation documents as well as the suite of security documents that are often required.

Prior to joining Al Tamimi & Company, Leith worked at a Magic Circle law firm in the UAE, prior to which he worked for a leading UK international law firm in their London, Riyadh and Amman offices.

Recent Experience

Drafting, negotiating and coordinating the execution of construction documents relating to a variety of construction projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This included negotiating on behalf of employers and developers, various building contracts, pre-construction services agreements, professional consultant appointments, consultant framework agreements in addition to contractor, consultant and sub-contractor collateral warranties, deeds of novation, performance bonds and parent company guarantees.
Seconded to an Abu Dhabi based government entity as well as a leading US events contractor/supplier for the provision of legal support in respect of their portfolio of projects in the UAE and Middle East.
Assuming responsibility for numerous key client relationships which relate to a variety of commercial and residential property portfolios and other projects across the UAE and UK, for a number of clients including a leading US events contractor/supplier, a UK fund, a care home developer as well as a public listed company, in relation to the procurement of construction works and services for projects and the preparation of the suite of construction documents required for projects in the Middle East and the UK.
Providing legal support as part of a multi-million-pound extension of time claim which formed part of a construction adjudication claim brought in relation to a prominent property in central London.
Assisting a food manufacturer with the pre-action stages of a dispute pertaining to incomplete and defective works undertaken by a contractor at one of its food manufacturing plants in the UK.
Advising a leading UK pension fund with respect to defects that had arisen at one of its largest UK commercial developments; Advising a number of UK and Middle Eastern clients with respect to corporate, commercial and litigation matters in Saudi Arabia.
Assisting with negotiating and drafting the terms of a significant multi-million US Dollar government funded telecommunications project, acting on behalf of a Saudi government body, advising on matters pertaining to its entry into this agreement, which was eventually executed and implemented in the Kingdom.