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Partners
Clyde & Co Abu Dhabi helps clients to successfully grow and operate in the Middle East.
Clyde & Co enjoys an unrivalled position as one of the longest-standing international law firms in the Middle East. We established our first office in the UAE in 1989, and this year we celebrate 20 years since opening our Abu Dhabi office.
We have accumulated over 35 years of deep market knowledge and experience in the sectors in which our clients operate, with particular focus on insurance, energy, transport, infrastructure, marine and trade, as well as aviation, education, defence, finance, healthcare, hospitality, and technology. We now have the largest presence of any international law firm in the Middle East with over 55 partners and over 300 staff.
15
Lawyers
24
Total staff
2005
Year of establishment
The firm’s on-the-ground team in Abu Dhabi advises the region’s largest regional conglomerates, sovereign wealth funds and multinationals across the full spectrum of their corporate and commercial needs. With a total team size of five partners and over 20 staff, the firm’s Abu Dhabi office continues to advise on ground-breaking matters impacting the region’s local economic growth and supporting government initiatives, including advising the ADGM Authority on the new Employment Regulations, Alpha Dhabi, one of the fastest growing Abu Dhabi based investment holding companies on the sale of its construction unit to ADQ, Aldar on its acquisition in the ADGM from Mubadala Investment Company, a ground-breaking compulsory medical scheme for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and numerous high profile property projects and joint ventures in the Emirate.
International and domestic clients engage our lawyers across the full spectrum of their corporate and commercial needs, including company structuring and governance, policy setting and licensing arrangements, employment and Emiratisation issues, funding, procurement, intellectual property (IP), technology and general commercial contracts.
Our teams also help institutions manage the increased burden of compliance and provide recovery solutions and assistance when clients are faced with cash collection issues.
Clyde & Co enjoys an unrivalled position as one of the longest-standing international law firms in the Middle East, with over 55 partners and over 300 staff. Our Abu Dhabi office complements a regional footprint that includes offices in Dubai in the UAE, Doha in Qatar, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Cairo in Egypt, providing a full-service commercial offering of local lawyers across key business sectors and practice areas.
Family Businesses
Over recent years, family-owned businesses in the Middle East have continued to experience exponential growth and success, with many having evolved into large and complex multinational conglomerates with an ever-increasing need for the best legal advice.
Learn moreLaw at Work
Employment law and practice are constantly evolving in the GCC region. Understanding the impact of these changes can be hard work, even for dedicated HR teams.
Read moreWhat clients say
Clyde & Co has a long history in the Middle East and this is evident in the quality of advice and understanding within the team.
Chambers Global, UAE, 2025
Clyde & Co's insurance team remains at the forefront of the Middle East insurance market, regularly involved in key sector developments and the drafting of key regulations.
Legal 500 EMEA, UAE, 2025
Clyde & Co provides a first class service which combines detailed knowledge of the law with practical steps’ and is recognised for its success across local UAE courts, the DIFC and ADGM Courts, and high-profile international arbitrations.
Legal 500 EMEA, UAE, 2025
The team at Clyde & Co has strong commercial awareness and is sensitive to local customs and culture.
Chambers Global, UAE, 2025
Clyde is one of the major law firms for construction work in the Middle East. They maintain a strong, diverse team which is always committed to delivering the best possible outcome for their client.
Chambers Global, UAE, 2025
The team’s strength is its regional coverage and strong local knowledge. The UAE corporate team is very pragmatic and knows what is expected to get filings with local authorities done.
Legal 500 EMEA, UAE, 2024
Latest awards won
Employment Team of the Year
LexisNexis Middle East Legal Awards 2025
GCC Law Firm of the Year
LexisNexis Middle East Legal Awards 2025
UAE Insurance Law Firm of the Year
Chambers Middle East Awards 2025
UAE Construction Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year
Chambers Middle East Awards 2025
Law Firm of the Year
MENA II Awards 2025
International Law Firm of the Year
The Law's Finest 2024
Law Firm of the Year
Middle East Insurance Industry Awards 2024
Litigation Firm of the Year
Legalcommunity MENA Awards 2024
UAE Law Firm of the Year
Lexology Index Awards 2024
Impact Deal Award
IFLR Middle East Awards 2024
Pro Bono Firm of the Year
IFLR Middle East Awards 2024
Law Firm of the Year
LexisNexis Middle East Legal Awards 2024
International Law Firm of the Year
LexisNexis Women in Law Awards 2024
Middle East Law Firm of the Year Dispute Resolution
Chambers Middle East Awards 2024
UAE Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year
Chambers Middle East Awards 2024
UAE Law Firm of the Year
Who’s Who Legal Awards 2024
Shipping and Transport Firm of the Year
The Legal 500 (Legalease) Middle East and North Africa Awards 2024
Law Firm of the Year
MENA IR Awards 2024
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