Updated

Guide

Doing legal business in Dubai

Everything you need to know about practising in Dubai as an English or Welsh solicitor. This guide also covers setting up a law firm branch in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

20 Mar 2026

6 minute read

Middle East conflict – support for members

A significant number of our members are based across the Middle East.

In light of escalating conflict across the region, our immediate concern is the safety and wellbeing of you, your colleagues and your families.

For help and advice, contact our international team: international@lawsociety.org.uk.

We can support with:

professional and regulatory liaison: we can help facilitate contact with local bars, law societies and regulators in alternative jurisdictions
engagement with UK government:  we can raise any regulatory, mobility, evacuation or consular concerns with the relevant departments on your behalf. We can also connect you with appropriate embassy staff

We also recommend reading the UK government’s UAE foreign travel guidance.

This includes a recommendation to register your presence in the UAE.

Our thoughts are with all those affected. We will continue to monitor developments and offer support as needed.

Dubai is a city and one of seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The UAE has a federal court system that allows each of the seven Emirates to establish a local court system. Dubai is one of three emirates that has established its own court system.

The UAE hosts the largest pool of English- and Welsh-qualified solicitors outside of the UK, and around 30 UK law firms.

It is a priority for the Law Society to support members practising in the UAE.

Legal services market

Dubai offers an open legal regulatory system for non-UAE lawyers and law firms.

It is home to many international law firms and lawyers, including many from the UK. It also boasts many well-established and reputable local law firms. Many of these firms practise local and international law and employ non-UAE lawyers.

Many international law firms based in Dubai operate in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The DIFC is an economic free-trade zone. It has helped to position Dubai as a key hub for service industries in the Middle East, including legal services.

In January 2023, Dubai unveiled its Dubai Economic Agenda (D33).

The Economic Agenda aims to double Dubai’s economy over the following 10 years and position it as one of the top global financial centres.

The Economic Agenda includes over 100 projects. There are also plans to create new trade corridors with over 400 cities around the world, with a focus on Africa and South America.

This should create many opportunities for lawyers and law firms practising in Dubai across a variety of sectors.

Practising as a foreign lawyer in Dubai

Foreign lawyers based and practising in Dubai must:

register with the Dubai Legal Affairs Department (DLAD), and
be admitted to the Roll of Practising Legal Consultants

To be admitted to the roll, foreign lawyers must meet certain requirements, including:

a law degree, or equivalent from a recognised university
at least three years of legal experience
good standing in their home jurisdiction
a valid residency in the UAE and an employment contract with a licensed law firm

The DLAD may require a copy of your law degree or equivalent to add you to the roll of practising legal consultants.

Visit the Dubai government’s online portal to apply to the roll.

You will need to create a user account first.

Foreign lawyers admitted to the roll may practise any area of law. Only Dubai nationals can appear in local courts in Dubai.

Registering with the DIFC

The DIFC is a free-trade zone area with a separate legal identity to the local Dubai courts.

The DIFC provides its own regulatory, legislative and judicial framework. It is overseen by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

The DIFC operates in English and is based on common law.

Foreign lawyers who want to practise in the DIFC must register with the DIFC in addition to the DLAD.

Find out how to register with the DIFC.

Fly-in fly-out services

Foreign lawyers based outside the UAE who want to provide legal services within the UAE are treated as ‘visiting legal consultants’.

This means you’ll need a permit from the DLAD to provide any legal services:

in the DIFC
before the Dubai International Arbitration Centre, or
at any law firm licensed in the UAE

Temporary permits are granted to visiting legal consultants for no more than 30 days per year or until the completion of a specific legal service. The DLAD may extend permits upon request.

For more details, see article 15 of Administrative Resolution No. (51) of 2022.

In-house lawyers

The DLAD requires in-house lawyers to register as non-practising lawyers under a special register.

For more information, see article 23 of Federal Decree Law No (34) of 2022.

The federal law seeks to restrict in-house lawyers from providing legal services outside of their employment.

In-house lawyers can only practise the legal profession for the benefit of their employers.

The procedures, terms and conditions for registration are set out in executive regulations, Cabinet Decision No. 8/2025.

For more information and a copy of the Cabinet Decision, email the Law Society’s international team at international@lawsociety.org.uk.

Visa requirements

Foreign nationals intending to take up employment in the UAE must:

be sponsored by an employer
have a valid residency permit
have a valid work permit

Employers should apply for both a residency and work permit on behalf of an employee.

To get a residency permit, you’ll need a health screening for communicable diseases.

Learn more about the residency permit application process.

Find out more about visas, permits and Emirates IDs.

Work permit issues

We are aware of an issue obtaining work permits for members who:

qualified without a law degree, and
are working outside the DIFC at local law firms

We are working with the relevant authorities to resolve this.

If you are experiencing an issue and would like support, email our international team at international@lawsociety.org.uk.

Establishing an office as a foreign law firm

Foreign law firms can establish an office in Dubai and practise either within the jurisdiction of Dubai, or the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

All foreign law firms establishing an office in Dubai must:

get a law firm licence from the Dubai Legal Affairs Department (DLAD)
register with the Dubai Department of Economic Development

Foreign law firms must meet the following requirements to obtain a foreign law firm licence from the DLAD.

The head office of the foreign firm must have:

a good international reputation
been established for at least eight years

The foreign firm must have branches or partnerships in either:

two different countries, or
in three states that have different legislative systems within one country, as per DLAD’s discretion

The branch must appoint:

a managing partner with at least eight years of practical legal experience
at least three managing partners or legal consultants (inclusive of the managing partner)

The appointed staff must register on the roll of practising legal consultants.

For the full criteria, see article 9 (c) of Administrative Resolution No. (52) of 2022.

Law firms seeking to establish within the DIFC must also register practitioners with the DIFC.

Regulation and representation

The Dubai Legal Affairs Department (DLAD) is responsible for regulating the legal profession in Dubai. Local regulatory bodies differ in other Emirates of the UAE.

The UAE Ministry of Justice regulates lawyers across the UAE at a federal level.

The DLAD is also responsible for overseeing disciplinary proceedings against lawyers practising in Dubai. It does this through its professional conduct committee.

This committee has the power to investigate any alleged violations and to issue sanctions. A lawyer found to have committed a violation will receive one of the following sanctions:

a written warning
suspension for a period of up to two years, or
being struck off from the roll of lawyers

There is no bar association or law society in Dubai.

Continuing legal professional development (CLPD) requirements

Lawyers registered with the DLAD must complete 16 hours of CLPD per year. This must include:

eight hours of mandatory CLPD activities
eight hours of accredited CLPD activities

Lawyers registered with the DIFC must complete 16 hours of CLPD per year. This must include:

eight hours acquired through mandatory CLPD activities
two hours acquired through any CLPD activity chosen by the Dubai International Financial Centre Academy of Law
six hours acquired through accredited CLPD activities

Legal system and courts

The legal system in the UAE and Dubai is based on civil code principles and Islamic Sharia law.

Common law principles, such as adopting previous court judgments as legal precedents, are generally not recognised.

Civil law matters in the UAE are governed by:

federal law and regulations
emirate-specific law and regulations
law and regulations applicable to free-trade zones
Sharia law
custom and practice

Day-to-day commercial matters are governed by both federal and local emirate law and regulations.

All emirates in the UAE have:

secular courts to adjudicate criminal, civil, and commercial matters
Islamic courts to review family and religious disputes

Dubai's local court system has three stages:

Court of First Instance
Court of Appeal
Court of Cassation

The local courts in Dubai and across the UAE have exclusive jurisdiction over certain legal matters. This includes all criminal proceedings, employment law and some real estate matters.

Although recent changes allow for local court cases to be heard in English, the majority are conducted in Arabic.

The UAE has several free-trade zones, including the Dubai International Finance Centre. These are separate from the local courts, are based on common law and have their own governing rules.

Requalifying in England and Wales as a Dubai lawyer

Lawyers and students from Dubai who wish to qualify in England and Wales can sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).

The SQE has replaced the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS).

Read our guide on requalifying as a foreign lawyer in England and Wales.

UAE Legal Consultants and Advocates can apply for an individual exemption to Part 2 of the SQE.

Find out more about SQE exemptions.

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Disclaimer

The Law Society cannot be held liable for actions taken based on this note or lack thereof.

In case of specific queries, we strongly advise considering instructing external counsel to obtain advice specific to your business objectives.

If you have any questions, email our international team at international@lawsociety.org.uk.

The information above does not constitute legal advice. It was drafted by the Law Society of England and Wales based on desk research and engagement with members.