Manager - Legal Affairs (UAE National)

Life at Dubai Future Foundation

Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) aims to realize the wise vision of Dubai's leadership to institutionalize the envisioned future and forward-thinking methodologies, while positioning Dubai as the leading city of the future. In partnership with its local and global partners from governments, companies, startups, and entrepreneurs, DFF drives joint efforts to collectively imagine, design, and execute the best possible future for humanity.

Under the supervision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DFF, the DFF runs and oversees many futureproofing projects and initiatives, such as the Museum of the Future, Area 2071, The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution UAE, Dubai Future Accelerators, One Million Arab Coders, Dubai Future Academy, Dubai Future Solutions, Dubai Future Labs, Dubai Future Forum, etc. DFF's efforts to share knowledge, adopt innovation, support entrepreneurs and innovative startups, build capacity, and promote forward-thinking and foresight principles contribute to Dubai's ambitions to be a role model for the cities of the future through the power of unlimited imagination, innovation, foresight and disruptive mindset.

For more information on the initiatives, projects, and programs of Dubai Future Foundation, please visit the website: www.dubaifuture.ae

Where does this role fit into the bigger picture

The Manager – Legal Affairs reports directly to the Chief of Legal Affairs.

The legal department is responsible for protecting the Dubai Future Foundation and its affiliated group entities from a legal perspective, supporting the business operations to ensure all frameworks, structures, contracts and agreements are aligned with applicable laws and regulations and providing thought leadership on policy and regulation.

Manager – Legal Affairs

As the Manager – Legal Affairs for the Dubai Future Foundation, your role will be to support the Chief of Legal Affairs and your colleagues in the legal team in implementing the legal strategies across the Dubai Future Foundation and its entities. You will be expected to work independently and collaboratively as required, to support the day-to-day operations of the legal function, provide strategic and commercially focused legal advice, and ensure efficient and timely legal support to the business. You will proactively identify risks, organize and prioritize workloads, and deliver high-quality legal support.

Legal Operations and Administration

• You will be responsible for supporting the Chief of Legal Affairs on the day-to-day operations of the legal department.

Position: Manager – Legal Affairs Dubai Future Foundation

• You will be responsible for organizing legal meetings and ensuring accurate documentation and effective communication.

• You will support the Chief of Legal Affairs with implementing the legal strategy across the Dubai Future Foundation by partnering with internal stakeholders, leading negotiation and contract drafting processes, and providing consistent high-quality legal support.

• You will draft, review, update and oversee the implementation of policies and standard operating procedures.

• You will prepare, review, draft and negotiate complex contracts and ancillary legal documents; submit recommendations for internal approval; manage feedback with the Chief of Legal Affairs; and ensure compliance with Dubai Future Foundation policies and applicable UAE laws and regulations.

• You will work collaboratively across DFF departments to drive and manage the full contract lifecycle, including drafting, negotiation, execution and contract change control processes.

• You will provide ongoing legal advice and support to internal departments, project teams and initiatives.

• You will prioritize legal workload and requests to ensure efficient, timely and accurate delivery.

• You will conduct legal and regulatory research, assess risks to the business and escalate key legal issues to the Chief of Legal Affairs.

• You will support audit and compliance monitoring activities for the Dubai Future Foundation and its group affiliates.

• You will provide commercially sensible and cost-effective legal advice and undertake other duties related to legal management and strategy as directed by the Chief of Legal Affairs.

• You will balance legal risk management with DFF's mandate to drive innovation, providing commercially minded advice that enables the business to move forward within acceptable risk parameters rather than defaulting to risk avoidance.

• You will contribute to policy and regulatory thought leadership on emerging technology governance, supporting DFF's role in shaping Dubai's regulatory approach to innovation, AI, and future technologies.

Third Party Relationships

• You will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with external counsel, third-party vendors, government entities and regulators as required by the Dubai Future Foundation.

• You will support legal engagements with UAE courts and relevant authorities where required.

• You will work closely with internal departments to understand legal requirements and coordinate legal support with the Chief of Legal Affairs.

Why this role is important

This role makes the biggest impact by being highly organised, detail oriented, flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the business. You will be part of the department responsible for legally protecting and safeguarding the needs of the Dubai Future Foundation.

You will be critical in assisting the Chief of Legal Affairs in legally protecting the business, managing and prioritizing the legal workload for the Chief of Legal Affairs and ensuring the business can deliver on its strategic objectives.

What Dubai Future Foundation offers

We will offer you a unique opportunity to work with passionate people, support shapers of the future as well as work that has an impact, not only on the organization or the UAE but all of humankind.

You will have the chance to work on exciting and new projects, work in a highly diverse and fast paced environment that fosters creativity, disruptive ideas and innovation.

Who We're Looking For

Qualification / Experience

• As the Manager – Legal Affairs, you will have a law degree from a recognized university.

• You will have a minimum of 6+ years post-qualification experience.

• You will have experience working in an international law firm or private practice; experience with UAE law is an advantage. Experience working with or within UAE government, semi-government, or sovereign entities is highly desirable, including familiarity with government procurement processes, public sector governance frameworks, and interacting with UAE regulatory authorities.

Technical Competency

• You will have excellent written and spoken English and Arabic communication skills.

• You will have strong experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts.

• You will have experience in corporate and commercial law, information technology contracts, commercial transactions and intellectual property. Familiarity with data privacy laws is desirable.

• You will have a good understanding of artificial intelligence concepts and be comfortable learning and incorporating new technologies into your work. Experience in advising on AI-related legal matters, including data governance, automated decision-making, intellectual property in AI-generated outputs, and the regulatory landscape for emerging technologies in the UAE will be highly desirable.

Approach to Work

• You will be able to translate legal advice into practical, business-focused guidance.

• You will work well with internal and external senior stakeholders.

• You will have strong negotiation, organization and time management skills and be able to manage multiple priorities.

• You will be comfortable working with multiple team members and managing legal matters independently or as part of a group.