Real Estate | Global

Clyde & Co has a well-established regional real estate practice that is further aided by its respected global capabilities in construction and related areas, including insurance. Its UAE-based team offers expertise in a wide range of matters, including leasing, office and retail developments, and property investment structuring. The practice has a strong focus on hospitality and real estate development, and maintains several long-term client relationships in these sectors.

DLA Piper has a first-rate real estate team in the UAE, which leverages the extensive global footprint of the wider law firm to service clients throughout the Middle East. It is noteworthy for its expertise relating to the hospitality, leisure and retail sectors. It further demonstrates a wealth of experience in handling matters on behalf of government entities.

A&O Shearman fields one of the most respected real estate practices in the UAE. It services an impressive range of clients hailing from sectors such as hospitality and finance, in addition to acting for well-known real estate developers and investors. It is frequently sought out for its expertise in multi-stranded transactional mandates.

Baker McKenzie fields a compact real estate team in Dubai, which represents an impressive list of clients. These include well-known property developers in addition to regional business conglomerates and Emirati family groups. The practice also regularly advises major hotel and hospitality brands on issues relating to management agreements, and is noted for its significant experience concerning joint ownership.

Clifford Chance has a respected real estate team in Dubai, which is frequently active on behalf of some of the market's best-known developers. It also acts for an impressive list of hotel operators, financial entities and regulatory authorities. The team advises on the acquisition and sale of major real estate assets, as well as providing structuring and development guidance in relation to high-end residential and resort properties. It offers further expertise in leasing and hotel management agreements.

Dentons is a well-regarded law firm with a strong position in the UAE real estate and hospitality markets. It has a wealth of experience in acting for clients on large-scale real estate developments and site acquisitions, in addition to leasing work. Its typical real estate files involve the representation of developers, financiers and investors in cross-border matters within the GCC.

Greenberg Traurig continues to make waves in the Dubai legal market, having opened its first Middle East offices in 2023. In the real estate sphere, it fields a respected team most recently based at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, which is especially noted for its expertise in strata matters pertaining to jointly owned properties. It assists with the structuring of master communities and is also skilled in the negotiation of branded residential management agreements.

Hadef & Partners is a well-established UAE law firm that assists clients with a range of real estate matters, including the development of mixed-use sites and strata ownership concerns. It is also well versed in the sale and purchase of properties, with further expertise in leasing and property management agreements. Its work relates to residential, commercial and hospitality assets.

Pinsent Masons is a respected law firm leveraging its market-leading global construction expertise to assist with a range of high-profile real estate projects. Based in Dubai, the team has an expansive reach across the Middle East and is frequently called upon for advice on cross-border matters, both within the region and further afield. Its lawyers often work on behalf of banks, hotel operators, developers, educational establishments and government entities on mixed-use developments and leasing arrangements.

Addleshaw Goddard maintains a compact property team in Dubai. It assists clients with the acquisition of various real estate assets, including branded luxury residences, office buildings and industrial sites, and is also well versed in strata documentation and leasing. The team acts for major property developers, as well as advising several well-known corporate clients.

Afridi & Angell offers a strong Dubai-based real estate team, which regularly assists high-profile local entities and foreign investors with matters throughout the UAE. The firm acts for a range of private clients as well as government bodies such as the Dubai Land Department. The team also possesses significant expertise in acting for property developers.

CMS houses a recognised real estate team known for providing a range of services in the field. The firm is principally active on transactions involving real estate assets in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, but is also capable of assisting with deals across the wider Middle East and further afield. It handles a variety of sale, acquisition and leasing matters, and has a wealth of experience in acting for prominent UAE-based developers such as Aldar.