Shiraz Khan

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.

Shiraz Khan

Partner, Head of Taxation

Biography

Shiraz is a UK qualified lawyer with over 23 years of international tax experience. Prior to joining Al Tamimi & Company, he was the global head of tax at a leading multinational where he was responsible for the tax affairs in over 100 countries. He has also worked for a top international law firm in the UK and big 4 firms in both the UK and the Middle East.

Shiraz specialises in advising on international tax structuring and tax aspects of cross border M&A, private equity, structured finance, Islamic finance and real estate transactions. He has in-depth knowledge and expertise across all taxes including corporate tax, withholding taxes and VAT in a wide range of industry sectors. He has particular expertise in advising multinational corporations on structuring their investments and operations into the region and financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, real estate investment companies, family offices and private equity groups based in the region on their international investments.

Shiraz regularly speaks at conferences and seminars on international tax issues and has been involved in advising governments on the drafting of tax laws.

Recent Experience

Tax advice for a global media group based in the Middle East in connection with their international operations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, America and Asia regions.
Structuring of various investments totaling USD1.5bn across Europe and the United States for a global real estate fund, including advising on tax efficient profit repatriation and exit as well as the tax considerations related to the financing structure.
Advised a private equity firm on a EUR2bn pan-European acquisition of a large engineering group including debt push-down at investment level.
Tax due diligence, structuring and sale and purchase documentation support for a Gulf bank in respect of an acquisition of a banking group in 13 countries across the Middle East and Asia.
Advised a sovereign wealth fund on various debt and equity investments into the United States.
Provided tax advice to a Shariah compliant bank based in the Gulf region in connection with the issue of a USD750m ijara backed sukuk.
Advised a regional retail organisation on the tax implications of expanding its operations in the Middle East.
Advised an international airline on the tax implications of a cross-border sale of an aircraft and advised private charter entities and individuals on aircraft and aviation-related sales.
Assisting a leading Korean construction company with one of the first MAP requests in the GCC region
Advised one of the world’s largest multinational technology companies in connection with activities in Kuwait as well as assistance in dealings with the Kuwaiti Department of Income Tax
Advised a large multinational corporation on the tax aspects including retention tax issues with respect to its business operations in Kuwait
Tax advice for a global media group based in the Middle East in connection with their international operations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, America and Asia regions.