General/Legal Counsel

Department: Legal Department Reports To: CEO/Chairman Location: Dubai, UAE Job Summary: The General / Legal Counsel will serve as the primary in-house legal advisor, providing legal guidance across all aspects of real estate development and construction activities. The role involves managing property transactions, construction contracts, regulatory compliance, project financing, dispute resolution and corporate legal matters while advising senior management on legal risks and business decisions. Key Responsibilities: Manage legal aspects of property acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, land transactions and real estate development agreements. Conduct legal due diligence and draft, review and negotiate sale and purchase agreements, construction contracts and related legal documents. Review and negotiate main contractor, subcontractor, consultant and FIDIC-based construction agreements. Ensure compliance with UAE real estate and construction regulations, including RERA, DLD and Dubai Municipality requirements. Advise on off-plan sales, SPAs, escrow accounts, Oqood registration and property-related regulatory requirements. Support project financing arrangements, including facility agreements, mortgages, security documents and lender negotiations. Manage construction disputes, contractor claims, purchaser complaints, litigation and arbitration proceedings. Oversee corporate legal matters, including company restructuring, shareholder agreements, board resolutions and statutory compliance. Identify legal risks, advise senior management and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies. Manage external legal counsel, legal budgets and relationships with law firms. Develop legal policies, standard contract templates and internal procedures. Provide legal guidance and awareness training to internal departments, including Sales, Finance, Procurement and Operations. Minimum 12+ years of post-qualification legal experience, with at least 7 years specialising in UAE real estate and construction law. Previous in-house experience with a UAE real estate developer, major contractor or leading law firm is highly preferred. Proven experience handling complex real estate transactions, land acquisitions, off-plan sales and project financing. Strong hands-on experience drafting and negotiating FIDIC and construction contracts. Experience managing construction disputes, litigation and arbitration proceedings, particularly through UAE courts and DIAC. In-depth knowledge of UAE Real Estate Law, RERA regulations, DLD requirements and Dubai Municipality regulations. Bachelor s degree in Law (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) from a recognized university. LLM is an advantage. Admission to practice law in the UAE or another recognized legal jurisdiction. Excellent legal drafting, negotiation, analytical and communication skills. Fluency in English is essential; Arabic proficiency is an advantage. Strong commercial acumen, professional integrity and ability to advise senior management on complex legal matters. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, legal research platforms and document management systems.