Essam Al Tamimi > Al Tamimi & Company > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Lawyer Profile
Al Tamimi & Company Offices

Central Park Towers
Floor 6-7, Omlaat Street Dubai International Financial Centre
PO Box 9275
United Arab Emirates
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Essam Al Tamimi

Work Department
Private Client Services
Position
Chairman
Career
In 1989, Essam Al Tamimi established what is now the largest law firm in the Middle East, Al Tamimi & Company and currently holds the position of Chairman at the firm. Essam has over thirty four (34) years of experience in litigation and arbitration in the UAE and the GCC countries covering almost all fields of law, both private and public law, including matters relating to corporate and commercial law, banking and financial law, real estate and property law, across several industries and sectors.
He has been involved in drafting laws and regulations and has assisted federal and local governments in drafting laws and regulations relating to a range of sectors. These have included the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Dubai Internet and Media City free zones, the Abu Dhabi government in privatization of water and electricity and played a major role in drafting the privatization and ADWEA laws and regulations, assisted the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry in drafting the Federal Industrial law and implementing regulations, contributed to the drafting of the relevant laws for establishing several Free Zones in the UAE, assisted Dubai International Financial Centre Authority in drafting number of laws and regulations relating to the DIFC Authority, the DIFC Court and the DIFC Arbitration Centre and have been actively involved in commenting and reviewing most of the federal laws including the Arbitration law, Commercial Companies law and the Consumer Protection law. He has extensive experience in regulatory matters and has assisted local and federal governments on regulatory issues.
Essam’s principal place of practice is Dubai, United Arab Emirates but he also has extensive experience in advising and assisting clients throughout the Arab region where he has worked and advised and attended to projects in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt and Iraq.
In addition to his role as counsel in numerous arbitration matters, Essam has also acted as an expert witness in a wide array of litigious matters. Essam has also been appointed as an arbitrator and chair of arbitral tribunals in arbitration proceedings under ADCCAC, CRCICA, DIAC, LCIA, ICC and PCA Rules.
Essam was on the ICC Court and formerly acted as Vice-Chair of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR, Paris and is the former Chair of the ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration and ADR. He is now a member of the Steering Committee of the ICC UAE Commission on Arbitration and ADR, served as Chairman and is Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is the Founder and Patron of the UAE Branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, member of the International Bar Association, served as member of the LCIA Court, served as President of the LCIA Arab Users Council. He has served a number of years as member of the board of The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). He is actively involved in development of arbitration laws in the region and for the training and development of arbitration in the UAE and the region. His practice focuses primarily on local and international clients in shipping, banking, intellectual property, commercial agency, joint venture, construction and commercial litigation. Essam has published a number of articles and books on litigation and arbitration in the UAE and setting up business in the region. He has received Gulf Legal Lifetime Achievement Award for outstanding contribution to the Gulf Legal Market. He is on the editorial advisory board of the ICLR and GAR, former Co-Chair of the IBA Rule of Law Forum, member of the Review Committee of Energy Arbitrators List, member of the Advisory Board of IBA’s Eyewitness to Atrocities, member of the Advisory Board of the BCDR International Arbitration Review, member of the FIAA Board of Trustees, member of the American Law Institute(ALI), member of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), member of the Board of Trustees of Ajman University, received Lifetime Achievement Award from International Financial Law Review (IFLR), is a member of the Arab Arbitration Group of the ICC, member of the SIAC Users Council and is a fellow and faculty member of the International Dispute Resolution Academy (IDRA). Essam is an appointed member of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board, which has been established to consolidate, represent and protect the interests of Dubai-based companies.
Languages
Arabic and English
Education
1984 – LL.M., Harvard School of Law
1983 – LL.B., Al Ain Law School
Lawyer Rankings
United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: local litigation
Al Tamimi & Company is praised for its ‘well-balanced and supportive team‘ with a ‘deep knowledge of Middle Eastern laws and practice‘. The firm maintains an impressive client roster, including financial institutions, regional and international industry leaders, and government entities. Team head Hassan Arab leads a broad practice encompassing commercial litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution. Co-head Mohamed Al Marzouqi stands out in banking, real estate, and IP disputes, while co-head Ahmed Allouz, known for his comprehensive disputes expertise, has a strong record in clinical negligence cases. Founder Essam Al Tamimi leverages over 30 years of experience to represent clients across litigation and arbitration. Naief Yahia is noted for his expertise in construction, commercial agency, and banking litigation. Naief Yahia also comes recommended.
United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation
Recognised as a ‘leading team in the region for disputes’, Al Tamimi & Company handles high-stakes litigation and arbitration across key sectors, including banking and finance, professional services, insurance, and construction. Recent growth includes the arrivals of Paul Taylor from Eversheds Sutherland LLP in May 2024 to lead the arbitration practice and Richard Bell from Clyde & Co LLP in January 2024. Essam Al Tamimi and Hassan Arab are well-reputed for their skill in arbitration. Rita Jaballah is sought out by clients for banking and financial services disputes and Naief Yahia is chiefly recognised his construction-focused practice. David Holloway is active on international trade disputes. Khushboo Shahdadpuri also comes recommended.
Lawyer Rankings
- Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation United Arab Emirates
- Dispute resolution: local litigation United Arab Emirates
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation
- Dispute resolution: local litigation
- Employment
- Intellectual property
- Real estate
- Shipping
- TMT