Clifford Chance
Our team of over 125 lawyers advises clients on domestic, regional, and international matters and have delivered many first-of-a-kind deals. We opened our first UAE office in 1975 and are well known for innovative, market-leading work.
A sizeable team with a proven track record
We've advised clients in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for over 40 years, significantly longer than many other international law firms. We have in-house Arabic capability, and, in contrast to many other firms, we can advise on both English and UAE law.
Our offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are permanently staffed by over 80 lawyers. We base lawyers in the UAE, rather than bringing in out-of-region lawyers to resource complex transactions, because we believe that clients get the best results from teams who are familiar with the region's laws, languages, and business processes.
The size of our UAE team and our close links with the firm's other Middle East offices mean that we can quickly put together strong in-region teams who can work efficiently on complex domestic, regional, and international deals. These teams are used to working together and with specialist lawyers from the firm's international network.
We advise many financial institutions, corporations and government entities on regional matters and regularly deliver complex regional and international transactions.
Recent highlights
Recent work
- Clifford Chance advises Ascentium on the acquisition of Virtuzone
- DP World on MENA region's first ever Blue Bond
- Emirates NBD Bank PJSC on first-of-a-kind issue of US$500 million Sustainability Linked Loan Financing Notes
- Clifford Chance advises underwriters’ counsel to Lulu Retail Holdings Plc on its US$1.72 billion IPO and listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX)
- Clifford Chance advises on debut international issuance of US$750 million senior unsecured lease certificates involving Türkiye Varlik Fonu (Türkiye Sovereign Wealth Fund)
- Mashreqbank on US$385 million NEOPAY sale
- Emirates NBD Capital and Standard Chartered Bank in relation to the establishment of a U.S.$ Sukuk Programme by Albaraka Türk Katılım Bankası A.Ş.
- Binghatti's debut sukuk issue
- lenders to Masdar's 1.8GW sixth phase of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai
- Saudi Electricity Company on the dual-Series international issuance of US$2.2 billion Trust Certificates under Saudi Electricity Sukuk Programme Company's US$6 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme
- Kuwait Finance House K.S.C.P. on the inaugural issuance of US$1 billion senior unsecured trust certificates by KFH Sukuk Company as trustee under its US$4 billion Trust Certificate Issuance Programme
- Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector's sukuk issues of US$600 million
- a consortium on the SalalaH2 project - a large scale green hydrogen and ammonia production project in Oman
- Saudi Tadawul Group on its acquisition of a 32.6% strategic stake in Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) creating Gulf Mercantile Exchange
- MBC GROUP (MBC) on its IPO and listing on the main market of the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul)
- lenders to 500MW Manah Solar IPP in Oman
- Moopen Family on Aster DM Healthcare's strategic restructuring and US$1 billion Gulf business sale
- Dubai Taxi Company’s IPO and listing on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM)
- Investcorp Capital's US$451 million IPO and listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange
- a syndicate of banks led by Citibank, BNP Paribas, HSBC Bank Middle East and MUFG Bank in relation to a $2.1bn acquisition financing for AviLease
- Expo City Dubai on the off-plan launch of two sustainable residential developments
- TAWAL on $1.42 billion Shari'a compliant acquisition financing of three telecommunications tower asset companies in Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia
- China Aircraft Leasing on a transfer of its 64-aircraft Boeing delivery pipeline to Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
- ADNOC Group on its acquisition of a 30% stake in Absheron gas field
- PNC Investments LLC (Sobha Realty) on its debut issuance of a US$300 million sukuk
- A syndicate of 16 Omani and regional banks on multicurrency conventional and Islamic facilities for OQ Gas Networks (OQGN), giving OQGN access to Sharia-compliant and conventional financing facilities worth US$1.2 billion
- Joint Lead Managers on the establishment of the US$2 billion trust certificate programme by Kuwait Projects Company
- the lenders on Brookfield Asset Management’s £2.2 billion recommended offer for Network International
- Majid Al Futtaim on the issuance of a US$500 million green sukuk
- Clifford Chance advises M42 on its acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Diaverum
- UAE Ministry of Finance on UAE dirham-denominated Islamic Treasury Sukuk Programme and ground-breaking auction
- TAQA on its acquisition of a controlling stake in Masdar
- DP World on the sale of a minority stake in its strategic UAE assets to CDPQ for US$5 billion
- the Ad Hoc Creditors' Committee of NMC Healthcare on its ground-breaking USD 7 billion financial restructuring
Directory and client comments
Directory listings
Chambers Global: UAE, 2025
- Band One in Banking & Finance
- Band One in Capital Markets (Debt)
- Band One in Capital Markets (Equity)
- Band One in Corporate/M&A
- Band Three in Dispute Resolution
- Band One in FinTech Legal
- Band Three in Construction
- Band One in Restructuring/Insolvency
- Band Two in Real Estate
Legal 500: UAE, 2024
- Tier One in Banking & Finance (including Islamic Lending)
- Tier One in Financial Services Regulation
- Tier One in Capital Markets
- Tier One in Commercial, Corporate and M&A
- Tier One in Projects and Energy/Infrastructure
- Tier Two in Dispute Resolution
- Tier Two in Construction
- Tier Two in Oil, Gas and Natural Resources
- Tier Three in Real Estate
- Tier Three in Compliance and Investigations
Client comments
- “They are one of the most technically savvy legal teams in the industry.”
“Clifford Chance's team has an amazing in-depth knowledge of capital markets locally and internationally. Their advice has always been solid and comprehensive, and we rely on it solely.”
Chambers Global: UAE, 2025 (Capital markets: Debt) - "Clifford Chance has dedicated construction specialists and a deep bench of high-quality associates. The firm is extremely helpful and really supportive. They are commercial and they understand our business well.”
Chambers Global: UAE, 2025 (Construction) - "Clifford Chance always takes care of clients' interests, proactively going above and beyond to address client needs.”
Chambers Global: UAE, 2025 (Corporate/M&A) - "Clifford Chance is very consistent. They have a very strong real estate practice. They have the market knowledge and experience; they are very good and extremely thorough with quality control.”
Chambers Global: UAE, 2025 (Real Estate) - "Clifford Chance offer top-rate lawyers with impeccable commercial strategy."
Chambers Global: UAE, 2025 (Dispute Resolution) - "Their strategic thinking is extremely advanced and sharp. They always think of what the next step should be and take into account all scenarios before deciding what we should do."
Chambers Global: UAE, 2024 (Dispute Resolution) - "Clifford Chance are consistently on the most high-profile innovative regional deals and their client base, particularly with focus on regional financial institutions, is top tier. Few other firms have been in the market as long/ are as established as Clifford Chance – and this is a real point of distinction for many clients looking to instruct Clifford Chance."
Legal 500: UAE, 2024 (Banking & Finance, Financial Services Regulation) - "They are a team that exceeds expectations and provides realistic and achievable time lines. They have a full knowledge of real estate-related agreements and know exactly how to differentiate between similar concepts in other jurisdictions and how to implement them in the UAE."
Chambers Global: UAE, 2024 (Real Estate) - "One of the strongest law firms in the region, with the benefit of reach or support from around the world when required."
Legal 500: UAE, 2024 (Construction) - "The uniqueness of their practice in handling issues related to Oil, Gas and Natural resources is that they assign a group of lawyers/counsellors who are familiar with each aspect of Oil, Gas and Natural resources. The assigned lawyers/counsellors have great knowledge of drafting all types of agreements in the said field."
Legal 500: UAE, 2024 (Oil, Gas and Natural Resources)
Directory Highlights
- Clifford Chance has again garnered the most Tier 1 rankings of any firm across the Middle East in 2025, as well as the most global-wide Tier 1 rankings of any other firm.
- International Law Firm of the Year (Chambers Middle East Awards 2023)
- International Law Firm of the Year (Middle East Legal Awards 2023)
- Commercial, Corporate and M&A Firm of the Year (The Legal 500 Middle East and North Africa Awards 2025)
- Banking and Finance Law Firm of the Year (The Legal 500 Middle East and North Africa Awards 2024)
