Our Story.
From a boutique practice in the UAE to a multi-jurisdictional legal force spanning three continents — this is how Emirates Legal was built, and why it endures.
2009
Founded
4 countries — UAE, UK, India, Kazakhstan
30+
Years
The founder's practice since 1995
1,000+
Clients
Advised on UAE corporate structures
98%
Client retention
A Vision Born in the World's Most Ambitious City
Since our inception in 2009, Emirates Legal has positioned itself at the cutting edge of legal consultancy.
Our Core Areas of Expertise
Envisioning a Brighter Future
Year of Foundation
Founded in the UAE during a period of global uncertainty — and with a clear conviction that precision and integrity would define our practice.
What We Were Built On
Three principles that have guided every matter we have handled since day one.
Founded on Principle
Emirates Legal was established in 2009 with a simple conviction: that exceptional legal counsel should be accessible to corporations navigating the complexities of Middle Eastern and international markets.
Cross-Border DNA
From the outset, our practice was designed to operate across jurisdictions. Our founding team understood that the most valuable legal work sits at the intersection of domestic regulation and international ambition.
Growth Through Results
Every expansion — from the UAE to the UK to Kazakhstan — was driven by client demand, not strategy decks. Our growth is a direct reflection of the trust our clients place in our counsel.
We Believe in a Different Kind of Legal Practice
We do not define success by billable hours — we define it by our clients' outcomes.
We believe the best legal advice is clear, direct, and free of unnecessary complexity.
We measure our impact not by the size of our team, but by the significance of the matters we resolve.
Trust is the foundation of every engagement. We protect it as rigorously as we protect our clients' interests.
UAE
2009UAE Office
DIFC, ADGM, UAE federal and emirate-level practice
UK
2015European Hub
English law, FCA-regulated matters, cross-border arbitration
Kazakhstan
2021AIFC Office
AIFC Courts practice, Belt & Road transactions, energy
Where Our Clients Go, We Go
Our UK office was established in 2015 not because it was part of a five-year plan, but because our clients were doing deals that touched English law and needed a partner who could work across both systems seamlessly.
Kazakhstan followed in 2021, as its AIFC — modelled on the DIFC — began to attract major international investment. For a firm with deep DIFC expertise, it was a natural and strategically important move.
This is how Emirates Legal grows: by following the legal needs of the clients we already serve, rather than chasing geographic targets.
Leadership
Syed Mujtaba Hussain
Founder & Managing Partner
Enrolled in 1995, Mr. Hussain has appeared before the Supreme Court of India, served the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva, and acted as General Counsel of a Dubai investment group before founding Emirates Legal in 2009. He has held full rights of audience before the DIFC Courts since 2016 and holds master's degrees from the University of Essex and the University of California, Berkeley.
Ready to Write the Next Chapter Together?
Whether you are entering the UAE market, navigating a cross-border dispute, or restructuring a complex transaction — Emirates Legal has the experience and the jurisdictional reach to guide you.