Sabrina Zhou

Practice Areas

Ms. Sabrina is the first Arabic-speaking, Chinese-qualified lawyer to practice in Saudi Arabia. Since her initial admission to the Chinese bar in 2015, she has accumulated a decade of legal experience marked by a strong international orientation. Her academic background spans both China and the United Kingdom, and she has spent the past five years practicing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This unique combination of qualifications and cross-border experience enables her to adeptly navigate the legal and cultural nuances across Civil Law, Common Law, and Sharia Law systems.

Ms. Sabrina possesses extensive experience in managing construction-related disputes within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, representing major companies across sectors including Oil & Gas, Petrochemicals, Electricity, and Infrastructure. Her work has involved navigating highly complex contractual arrangements, where she has demonstrated a deep understanding of both the technical intricacies of the agreements and their interpretation under Sharia law—a critical aspect in the region. In addition to her dispute resolution expertise, she has advised on a wide range of M&A and foreign direct investment transactions, providing end-to-end legal support. This includes deal structuring, active participation in strategic decision-making, negotiation and drafting of transaction documents, and post-closing operational guidance, all tailored to the unique regulatory and cultural landscape of Saudi Arabia.

In addition, Ms. Sabrina has represented large-scale multinational corporations and continues to provide strategic legal counsel on disputes, operations, and regulatory compliance across the Middle East. Over the past decade, the region has witnessed rapid economic transformation driven by national efforts to diversify beyond oil-dependent models. This evolving landscape has offered Ms. Sabrina a unique vantage point to observe and engage with emerging legal and commercial trends, particularly in sectors undergoing reform and expansion. Renowned for her ability to bridge legal and cultural divides, she brings invaluable practical experience and a cross-border perspective to complex legal and international arbitration matters throughout the MENA region and beyond. Her work often involves interpreting contractual obligations not only in light of their technical complexity but also through the lens of Sharia law, which governs many aspects of commercial and dispute resolution frameworks in the region. She actively participated in the 2025 ICC Asia Pacific Conference on International Arbitration and was invited to serve as a consultant to the Arbitration Committee Co-Chairs for the 2026 Annual IBA Arbitration Day Conference in Abu Dhabi.

Ms. Sabrina currently serves as a Partner at Abdulaziz Bin Ali & Partners Law Firm, a boutique practice known for its expertise in corporate law, dispute resolution, and regulatory advisory in Saudi Arabia. The firm has earned recognition for its role in high-profile commercial and arbitration matters, contributing to the region’s legal development. In her role, Ms. Sabrina continues to advise on complex cross-border issues, leveraging her deep understanding of both international and Sharia law frameworks.

Career

2021–Present | Partner, Abdulaziz Bin Ali Law Firm (Khobar, KSA) — Leading China Desk for Saudi-China dispute resolution

2021–Present | Consultant, Guantao Law Firm (Shanghai, PRC) — Cross-border investment and risk advisory

2017–2020 | Senior Associate, EY Law (Shanghai, PRC) — International litigation and arbitration

Professional Memberships

International Bar Association (Certificate Member, 2025)

Saudi Bar Association | الهيئة السعودية للمحامين (Professional Affiliate, 2025)

Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China (Admitted Lawyer, 2015)

Work Highlights

- Represented a Chinese state-owned enterprise (Respondent) in an SCCA arbitration concerning a logistics services agreement tied to a major construction project in Saudi Arabia. Successfully defended against claims initiated by a Saudi-based company.

- Represented a subcontractor (Claimant) in an ad hoc arbitration related to the Jizan Refinery Project. Secured full recovery of outstanding payments for completed work.

- Represented a Japanese manufacturer (Claimant) in an ad hoc arbitration against a Saudi firm involving dual supply contracts for a Saudi Electricity Company project. Achieved recovery of unpaid dues and reimbursement of a bank guarantee.

- Represented a Saudi entity (Claimant) in an ad hoc arbitration over a disputed sale agreement involving building assets in one of Saudi Arabia’s largest real estate transactions. Successfully enforced the agreement and recovered the outstanding balance.

- Represented a leading oilfield services provider (Claimant) in an ICC arbitration against a drilling contractor. Recovered rental fees, secured release of a letter of guarantee, and enforced ICC awards in Saudi Arabia.

- Represented a UAE-based company (Claimant) in an ad hoc arbitration under Saudi arbitration law, administered by the Al-Sharqia Chamber, regarding a subcontract for system design and installation. Successfully obtained financial compensation.

- Represented a UK-based manufacturer (Claimant) in a cross-border arbitration under the Dammam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Arbitration Center. Validated the agency agreement and recovered outstanding payments.

- Represented a Saudi port operator (Respondent) in an ad hoc arbitration in Dammam. Successfully dismissed claims for alleged financial arrears by challenging the validity of invoices and citing contractual breaches and COVID-19-related restrictions.

- Represented an authorized engineering consultant for Saudi Aramco (Claimant) in an ad hoc arbitration over laboratory testing services. Demonstrated the relevance of disputed invoices and secured recovery of the outstanding balance.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

People's Republic of China — Admitted Lawyer (2015)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia — Professional Affiliate, Saudi Bar Association (2025)

International — Certificate Member, International Bar Association (2025); experienced in multi-jurisdictional arbitration and cross-border enforcement

Languages Spoken

Chinese (Native), English (Business professional), Arabic (Business Professional)

Education