Areen Jayousi

Practice Areas

Areen is a distinguished partner specializing in dispute resolution, with over 16 years of broad experience across the real estate, construction, and financial institutions sectors. His expertise centres around the effective management of commercial disputes in the Middle East, where he has honed his skills through a mix of private and in-house legal work. Areen excels in preparing and conducting arbitrations and litigation for notable and well-known disputes in the region. He represents a diverse group of clients, including developers, banking institutions, contractors, and high net worth individuals in the UAE, the MENA region, and internationally. He also possesses deep knowledge in the banking and financial services sector, offering advice on a wide spectrum of disputes, including those related to white-collar crime.

Of late, Areen has a focused interest in onshore UAE based bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, advising on several prominent and well publicised cases in the UAE. His involvement spans the full insolvency process for both creditors and debtors, from challenging or securing court decisions to consulting on stakeholder risks and liabilities. Proficient in both civil and common law legal systems, Areen often provides detailed and complex legal advice and written opinions on specific issues of UAE law to leading international law firms and private clients.

He is a registered arbitrator with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), ICC, SCCA, and IICRA and has considerable experience in litigation in both English and Arabic across all levels of the UAE courts.

Career

Partner - Horizons & Co. Law Firm: 2016 - Present

Head of Dispute Resolution - Dubai Properties Group: 2011 - 2016

Senior Legal Consultant - Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants: 2006 - 2011

Professional Memberships

• Arbitrator registered with Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)

• Arbitrator registered for the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA)

• Arbitrator registered with the International Islamic Centre for Reconciliation and Arbitration (IICRA)

• Member of the International Bar Association, London (IBA)

• Member of the UAE National Committee for International Chamber of Commerce (ICC UAE)

Work Highlights

ARBITRATION

• A major Middle East-based EPC contractor in an AED 454 million ADCCAC arbitration in relating to delays and disruption by the employer, a GCC government entity.

• A UAE construction company, in an AED 586.6 million dispute over a pumping station against a government entity.

• A UAE-based master developer in a DIAC arbitration in relation a mixed-use infrastructure project in the UAE, successfully awarding our client approx. AED 52.9 million.

• A major Middle Eastern contractor in relation to an AED 104.4 million dispute arising out of non-payment concerning the construction of a multi-purpose tower in the UAE, under DIAC arbitration rules.

• A leading multinational conglomerate concerning a real estate dispute relating to contractor defaults.

• A major property investment and development company in an AED 800 million DIAC arbitration relating to an infrastructure development in the UAE.

• A major UAE construction contractor in DIFC-LCIA arbitration proceedings relating to a mixed-use development in the UAE.

• A multinational supply company in regards to ratifying their DIAC award.

• A UAE-based master developer in a DIAC arbitration in relation a mixed-use infrastructure project in the UAE, successfully awarding our client approx. AED 52.9million.

• A multi-national construction joint venture in relation a multi-million-dollar dispute concerning a major infrastructure project in the Middle East under ICC arbitration rules.

• A multi-national contractor in a Geneva seated ICC arbitration arising out of non-payments concerning a mixed-use development in the UAE valued at AED 76.9 million.

INSOLVENCY & RESTRUCTURING

• A syndicate of 10 (international and local) banks on navigating the onshore bankruptcy regime following a filing of bankruptcy procedures. The ultimate exposure owed to the syndicate is valued at 1.2 billion AED.

• A Japanese car manufacturer on the restructuring of the company’s operations in the UAE and the subsequent terminations of staff with minimal notice and with minimal financial loss without damaging the company’s reputation in the market under the JAFZA rules and regulations.

• One of the Big Four audit firms on their liability and obligations under Bankruptcy law during their winding up applications of one of the main commodity trading firms in the region.

• A large client of an international law firm in the trading industry on their bankruptcy applications against 15 UAE importers, for a trade value of $200 million (US).

• A major syndicate on options in pursuing the best route of recovery by providing a breakdown analysis on the consequences and benefits in applying the UAE Bankruptcy Law of 2016, or the Insolvency Law of 2019.

• A well-known European financial services provider’s UAE subsidiary on bankruptcy procedures for a major European processing firm in their liquidation of their UAE subsidiary.

LITITGATION

• A UAE-based contractor in relation to a dispute concerning prolongation costs arising out of a construction project in Abu Dhabi.

• A UAE-based contractor in relation to a dispute concerning prolongation costs arising out of the construction of two high rise projects in Dubai.

• A leading UAE-based health and safety contractor in relation to a dispute arising out of a subcontract agreement for a construction project in the Middle East.

• A leading UAE-based real estate company relating to the AED19.6m dispute concerning a property development in the Emirates.

• A major UAE free zone development in relation to the termination of an existing agreement allowing the client to rent land to a third party.

• A leading UAE-based real estate company in relation to a dispute arising out of the nullification of an SPA concerning a property development in the emirates

• A UAE-based real estate developer on 20+ matters concerning the termination of SPA's and refund of payments made across the Emirates.

• A leading UAE-based real estate company relating to the US$42.3m dispute against the developer of a real estate project in the Middle East.

• A leading multinational conglomerate concerning a real estate dispute relating to contractor defaults.

• A leading digital solutions provider in their leasing agreement dispute against a well-known UAE financial institution.

FINANCIAL CRIME

• A UAE sovereign wealth fund against an investor in a fraud and deception case. The claim is in relation to a forgery and deception in obtaining a prominent retail unit.

• A semi-government entity in Abu Dhabi against a prominent local group of companies in proceedings related to fraud and embezzlement. The case is currently before the public prosecution and involves both current and former members of staff. The claim is for an amount of AED 95 million.

• A UAE based bank against a Lebanese national in relation to fraudulently obtained financing in the region of AED 200 million. The case is currently before the court of cassation and is part of multi-jurisdictional proceeding in several countries.

• Leading onshore federal proceedings in Dubai against a high net worth individual (Relative of former African president) in relation to fraudulent trading allegations. The claim is in excess of USD146m.

• Several defendants accused of money laundry, fraud and embezzlement. An amount of AED55,7302mm through an Islamic Bank.

• A UAE based bank against a Lebanese national in relation to fraudulently obtained financing in the region of AED200m. The case is currently before the court of cassation and is part of multi jurisdictional proceeding in several countries.

• A UAE based bank against a Indian National in relation to fraudulently obtained financing in the region of AED200m. The case is currently before the court of cassation and is part of multi jurisdictional proceeding in several countries.

Industry Sector Expertise

- Financial Services

-Insolvency Restructuring & Bankruptcy

-White Collar Crime, Fraud and Investigations

Languages Spoken

Arabic and English

Education