Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Department: Legal & Compliance
Experience Required: Minimum 5 years of relevant corporate legal experience within the UAE/Dubai market
Employment Type: Full-Time
About the Role
We are seeking a dynamic, results-driven Corporate Legal Professional to manage and oversee our corporate legal matters, banking compliance, and Free Zone (FZ) company formations and regulatory frameworks.
The ideal candidate will have a strong grounding in UAE corporate laws, extensive experience liaising with UAE banks and regulatory authorities, and a proactive approach to handling complex cross-border and local legal structures.
Key Responsibilities1. Corporate Legal & Advisory
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial contracts, agreements, and corporate documents, including shareholders agreements, share purchase agreements, vendor contracts, NDAs, and other legal documents.
- Provide strategic legal advice to management on operational risks, corporate governance, and local statutory requirements.
- Maintain corporate records, board minutes, and resolutions in compliance with UAE Federal Decree-Laws and applicable Free Zone regulations.
- Maintain digital records for all companies by systematically filing and updating important corporate documents.
2. Banking Compliance & Relations
- Lead legal and regulatory compliance processes required by UAE and international banking institutions.
- Coordinate corporate account openings, account updates, KYC/AML (Anti-Money Laundering) requirements, and facility documentation with partner banks.
- Ensure ongoing alignment with Central Bank guidelines, Economic Substance Regulations (ESR), and Ultimate Beneficial Ownership (UBO) filing requirements.
3. Free Zone & Mainland Company Matters
- Manage end-to-end Mainland and Free Zone operations, including entity setup, license renewals, amendments, corporate restructuring, and deregistration across major UAE Free Zones, including DMCC, DIFC, JAFZA, DAFZA, and SAIF Zone.
- Manage visa renewals for various UAE entities and provide necessary documentation and administrative support for companies.
- Upload renewed trade licenses to relevant portals, including FTA-CT, and support VAT compliance requirements.
- Liaise directly with Mainland and Free Zone authorities, government bodies, banks, and external legal counsel to resolve regulatory queries and expedite compliance procedures.
Key Requirements & QualificationsEducation
- Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent.
- Master of Laws (LLM) or relevant legal certifications, including qualified lawyer status in the home jurisdiction, will be an advantage.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of post-qualification experience.
- Proven track record working within a reputable law firm or an in-house legal department strictly within the Dubai/UAE market.
Domain Expertise
- Deep, hands-on knowledge of UAE Corporate Law.
- Strong understanding of UAE Free Zone regulations and Mainland company requirements.
- Practical knowledge of banking compliance, KYC/AML, UBO, ESR, and related regulatory requirements.
- Strong expertise in commercial contract drafting, review, negotiation, and legal advisory.
Core Competencies
- Exceptional analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Arabic language proficiency will be a strong advantage.
- High level of professional autonomy, discretion, confidentiality, and ethical standards.
- Strong ability to manage multiple entities, regulatory requirements, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
- Proactive, detail-oriented, and results-driven approach to legal and compliance matters.
