Nassif BouMalhab

International Arbitration

Arbitration & Mediation

Litigation

Nassif BouMalhab, Co-Chair of the International Arbitration Group, focuses on complex business disputes in the Middle East.

With over 20 years of experience, Nassif represents clients in international and domestic arbitration and mediation including under the ICC (International Chamber of Commerce), LCIA (London Court of International Arbitration), DIAC (Dubai International Arbitration Centre), ArbitrateAD (Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre), SCCA (Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration), AAA (American Arbitration Association), and UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission On International Trade Law) rules. He has advised investors on legal dispute resolution between investors and States under investment treaties, including under the arbitration rules of ICSID (the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes).

He has served as party counsel in more than 50 arbitration cases and assisted clients in hundreds of court proceedings before the courts of the United Arab Emirates, including the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts, Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts, and the Abu Dhabi and Dubai Courts (onshore).

In addition to his advocacy work, Nassif serves on arbitration tribunals for corporate and commercial disputes. He advises lawmakers on reforming international and domestic arbitration legislation and rules. Nassif is a member of the Executive Committee of the Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre (TAHKEEM), a committee member of the ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration and ADR and an observing member of the LCIA Users’ Council.

Nassif’s work has earned recognition from several legal directories. Global Arbitration Review (GAR) named him among the Global Leaders in international arbitration in their 2023 report; The Legal 500 lists Nassif among its Hall of Fame lawyers in the United Arab Emirates for dispute resolution in arbitration and international litigation; and Asia Legal Business included him in their inaugural MENA Super 50 Lawyers list in 2021 and in their list for 2024. Chambers and Partners ranks Nassif in their Global Legal Guide for Dispute Resolution Middle East-wide and Dispute Resolution United Arab Emirates; and Arabian Business acknowledged Nassif in its Legal Eagles list of practitioners making waves in Dubai (2021). He is a Lexology Index, Recommended Lawyer in Hospitality Disputes, United Arab Emirates (2023).

Concentrations:

International arbitration and litigation

Arbitration and mediation

Litigation

Commercial litigation

Financial services litigation

Hospitality

Real estate

Government contracts

Fraud

Organising Committee Member, Dubai Arbitration Week, 2021-Present

Member, International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), 2019-Present

Committee Member, ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration, 2025-Present

Member, LCIA Users’ Council, 2025-Present

Member, Executive Committee, Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre (TAHKEEM), 2017-Present

Registered Practitioner, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts, 2012-Present

Member, Barreau du Québec (Québec Bar), 2003-Present

Member, Canadian Bar Association, 2003-Present

LL.B., Common Law, with Honour, University of Ottawa, 2002

LL.L., Civil Law, with Highest Honour, University of Ottawa, 2001