Sameera Kimatrai

Practice Areas

Sameera Kimatrai is an English law-qualified Of Counsel in Gibson Dunn’s UAE offices, where she leads the firm’s Middle East Financial Regulatory Practice. She advises governments, regulators, and a broad range of financial institutions in the UAE including investment managers, banks, payment service providers, and digital asset firms on complex regulatory issues across onshore UAE and financial free zones. Sameera is a recognized expert in digital asset regulation across the Middle East and Africa, having served as senior legal counsel and regulatory lead for the world’s largest digital assets exchange. She is also an active member of Gibson Dunn’s Artificial Intelligence practice group and works closely with regulators and financial institutions to develop frameworks for AI governance and usage.

Sameera also has extensive legislative drafting experience, having written laws for new zones in the Middle East and Central Asia, including the ADGM and DIFC financial free zones and for new zones in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She has actively advised the UAE Central Bank and the Financial Services and Regulatory Authority on legislative amendments to their regulations and rules.

Her industry recognition includes being ranked Up and Coming by Chambers Fintech Legal and named a Rising Star by The Legal 500 Middle East (2020–2022) for Financial Services Regulation. In 2025, she was awarded Rising Star at the Law Middle East Awards for her significant contributions to Gibson Dunn and the financial regulation and fintech market.

Personal

University of Cambridge - 2015 Master of Arts

University of Law - 2013 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)

University of Law - 2013 Legal Practice Course

University of Law - 2012 Graduate Diploma in Law

University of Cambridge - 2011 Bachelor of Arts