Saif El Fawaer

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.

Biography

Saif is a bilingual, highly experienced, and skilled litigator with extensive knowledge of the law and judicial system. His expertise encompasses claims and arbitration proceedings relating to construction, corporate matters, banking, enforcement of foreign awards, agency disputes, labor, intellectual property, real estate, and commercial disputes.

Saif began his legal career with a prestigious firm in Amman, Jordan, before moving to the litigation and arbitration team of a leading law firm in Doha. The size and client base of the law firm ensured that the cases and matters he handled were complex and challenging.

Saif completed his LLB, LLM, and PhD at the University of Jordan. He is also a member of the Jordanian Bar Association.

Recent Experience

Representing the subsidiary of an international contracting group headquartered in Saudi Arabia in the following matters:
- Several construction cases related to seven different projects filed against the employer, totaling AED 2 billion.
- Over 40 construction cases filed against the contractor by subcontractors and suppliers.
- A bankruptcy case filed against the contractor by one of the subcontractors.
- Mediation with a subcontractor and approximately 20 suppliers and service providers who are creditors of the subcontractor, as well as two banks.
Representing one of the largest semi-government developers and its subsidiaries in several construction and property disputes relating to various projects.
Representing one of the largest entertainment companies in:
- Several construction disputes related to its parks.
- A dispute with one of its service providers related to the park sponsors worth AED 100 million.
Acting for an Emirati multinational real estate development company in relation to a dispute arising from the main contract concerning the construction of a ‘mega project’ in Dubai.
- The value of the project exceeds 800 million dirhams.
- The disputes involve claims by the contractor of approximately 1.2 billion dirhams and counterclaims of 1.2 billion dirhams by the employer.
Acting for one of the major construction firms in the region headquartered in Spain in relation to a dispute arising from the main contract concerning the construction of electrical power generation.
- The value of the project exceeds 800 million dirhams.
- The disputes involve claims by the employer of approximately 980 million dirhams and counterclaims of 188 million dirhams by the contractor.
Acting for the main authority responsible for distributing water and electricity in the Northern Emirates in relation to a dispute arising from the main contract concerning the construction of main transformer stations (132/11KV) and (132/33/11KV) and the expansion of stations.
- The project involves eight stations distributed across the Northern Emirates.
- The value of the project exceeds 200 million dirhams.
- The disputes involve claims by the contractor of approximately 55 million dirhams.
Represented a Korean industrial conglomerate in its dispute with an international contractor worth QR 30 million.
Represented a consortium in a construction dispute with Qatar Rail worth QR 5.1 billion.
Represented the subsidiary of an international contracting group working on the largest polysilicon factories in the MENA region in its dispute with the employer.
Acting for most of the top commercial and Islamic banks and financial institutions, including:
- Various banking and finance disputes, including multimillion-dirham debt recovery disputes.
- Work involves interim and enforcement measures, such as securing travel bans, precautionary attachments, garnishment and seizure orders, and enforcement over secured and unsecured assets.
- Defending lawsuits filed against banks and financial institutions before the UAE Courts.
Acting for a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry in multiple cases.
Acting for a global specialist in energy management and automation in respect of a dispute over the supply of goods.
Supporting the arbitration team in preparing multiple legal expert reports in construction arbitration disputes that engage in deep legal research and analysis in both jurisprudence and judicial precedents.
Acting for a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer in AED 1.5 billion dispute related to commercial arrangements regarding the promotion and supply of vehicles in the Middle East through a UAE joint venture company.