Our Story.
From a boutique practise in the heart of Dubai to a multi-jurisdictional legal force spanning three continents — this is how Emirates Legal was built, and why it endures.
2009
Founded
4 cities — Dubai, London, Astana, New Delhi
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 Dubai, 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 Dubai to London to Astana — was driven by client demand, not strategy decks. Our growth is a direct reflection of the trust our clients place in our counsel.
Our Journey.
A timeline of our most formative milestones and strategic expansions.
UAE Legal Practice Commences
Syed Mujtaba Hussain begins legal practice in the UAE, building deep expertise in the country's rapidly evolving commercial legal landscape.
Emirates Legal Founded
Emirates Legal is formally established in Dubai, with a focus on corporate advisory, dispute resolution, and cross-border transactional work.
Growth in Dispute Resolution
Landmark matters including a $150 million DIFC Courts claim. 43 arbitrations · 38 awards completed across multiple institutions.
Full rights of audience before the DIFC Courts
The firm's conduit enforcement of a DIAC award in Chenshan Liu v Dubai Waterfront is followed within weeks by Decree No. 19 of 2016, constituting the Joint Judicial Tribunal.
Cross-Border M&A Expansion
AED 2 billion real estate deal for a Chinese corporation. $180 million cement plant acquisition. Firm establishes M&A credentials.
Kazakhstan & AIFC Expansion
First ME/SA law firm licensed by the AIFC. $200 million Kazakh cement investment structured and secured.
London Office & AI Integration
London office opens. AI Solutions Team launched. Emirates Legal presents at Emirates Arbitration Week 2025. Multi-continent practice fully operational.
The US$93 million reversal
Acting for the Goel guarantors against Credit Suisse, the firm wins before the Joint Judicial Tribunal: every order set aside, the worldwide freezing order discharged, the clients' assets released.
A new legal order
The questions raised by the firm's cases feed the reform of Dubai's conflicts regime (Decree No. 29 of 2024; Dubai Law No. 2 of 2025) — and the firm secures one of the first rulings under the new Courts Law's Article 14(B) gateway.
Judgments that travel
Three DIFC Courts judgments recognised in India under the India–UAE judicial cooperation arrangements; the latest matter proceeds to the Supreme Court of India with the firm appearing as 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.
Dubai
2009Global HQ
DIFC, ADGM, UAE federal and emirate-level practice
London
2015European Hub
English law, FCA-regulated matters, cross-border arbitration
Astana
2021AIFC Office
AIFC Courts practice, Belt & Road transactions, energy
Where Our Clients Go, We Go
Our London 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.
Astana followed in 2021, as Kazakhstan's 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.