Mr Rashid Al Saad > Sharq Law Firm > Doha, Qatar > Lawyer Profile
Sharq Law Firm Offices

Alfardan Office Tower, 22nd Floor
West Bay
DOHA
Qatar
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Mr Rashid Al Saad

Work Department
Senior Partner
Position
Senior Partner
Career
Rashid Al Saad is one of Qatar’s leading dispute resolution lawyers, known for his role in some of the country’s most complex and high-value contentious matters. A Qatari-qualified advocate with full rights of audience before the Court of Cassation, he heads Sharq Law Firm’s market-leading disputes practice, which is regularly instructed on strategic litigation and international arbitration across the construction, banking, regulatory, and white-collar crime sectors.
His experience spans cross-border proceedings under DIAC, ICC, and QICCA Rules, with notable mandates including advising an international body on legislative reform for the 2022 World Cup, serving as an independent Qatari law expert in ICC arbitration seated in London, and leading DIAC proceedings seated in Paris involving multi-million-riyal claims. Domestically, he has acted in precedent-setting litigation before all levels of the Qatari courts, including on behalf of the country’s largest financial institutions.
Mr Al Saad also maintains a thriving white-collar crime practice. He is particularly sought after in disputes requiring high-level coordination across legal, regulatory, and reputational dimensions, and is known for his tactical judgement and commercial acuity. He is ranked in Chambers Global and recognised as a Leading Individual by Legal 500 EMEA (2025), and he features in the Legal 500 Arbitration Powerlist – Middle East (2023). Peers and clients frequently highlight his strategic insight, commercial judgement, and influential role within the Qatari legal community.
Mr Al Saad also leads a highly regarded corporate and commercial practice, advising sovereigns, state-owned entities, financial institutions, and family-owned groups on complex transactional and regulatory mandates. Drawing on senior in-house experience at Qatari Diar and Qatar Railways Company, he is uniquely positioned to advise on matters at the intersection of public policy, infrastructure, and commercial strategy.
Recent mandates include advising a government entity on a USD 12 billion sovereign bond issuance; acting for a government authority on QAR 6.7 billion in asset transfers; and advising on the restructuring of a QAR 1.8 billion real estate fund. He has also advised on a QAR 586 million rights issue for a listed entity and acted as lead counsel on the termination of a national health insurance scheme valued above QAR 1 billion.
Mr Al Saad is widely recognised for combining legal clarity with strategic foresight. As the Founder of Sharq Law Firm, he has built a values-driven institution defined by meritocracy, diversity, and innovation. A vocal advocate of flexible working, digital transformation, and sustainable legal practice, his leadership has positioned Sharq among the most progressive law firms in the region.
He is ranked in Chambers Global (2024) and recognised as a Leading Individual by Legal 500 (2025) for Corporate, Commercial & M&A. He also features in the Legal 500 M&A Powerlist – Middle East (2024) as well as ranked in Lexology Index (Who’s Who Legal) for Construction (2025)
Languages
Arabic, English
Memberships
Member of the Qatari Bar Admission Committee
IBA
ICC
Education
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) – Qatar University
Executive MBA – HEC Paris
Bar Qualifications:
Qatar
Personal
Mr Al Saad began his career in the public sector, serving as General Counsel at Qatari Diar and subsequently at Qatar Railways Company, where he advised on major infrastructure and real estate projects of strategic national importance. In these roles, he led cross-border negotiations, developed regulatory and compliance frameworks, and advised on commercial agreements involving both domestic and international counterparties.
In 2014, he founded Sharq Law Firm with a vision to create a Qatari-led practice of international calibre—technically outstanding, commercially responsive, and culturally attuned. Under his leadership, the firm has become a trusted adviser to sovereign bodies, ministries, regulators, and global corporates. He remains closely involved in the firm’s strategic direction and is regularly consulted on legal reform, institutional governance, and policy development.
Mr Al Saad also plays an active role in Qatar’s legal community through his longstanding membership of the Qatari Bar Admission Committee. Widely respected for his discretion, judgement, and professional integrity, he is a prominent voice in national discussions on legal development and professional ethics.
Lawyer Rankings
Qatar > Commercial, corporate and M&A
(Leading partners)Sharq Law Firm‘s corporate and commercial department is retained by both local and multinational clients for its transactional expertise, especially in share sales, and restructurings. Marwa Ali Bamatraf heads the department and is noted for her expertise in capital markets, corporate governance and private/public conversions. Founding partner Rashid Al Saad Al Kuwari continues to be active in the team, often handling international matters, particularly those involving several jurisdictions simultaneously. Associate Perla El Mardini is active in the infrastructure, oil and gas, and aviation sectors.
Qatar > Projects, real estate and construction
(Leading partners)Sharq Law Firm is active in contentious and non-contentious construction matters. The well-established team is led by Rashid Al Saad, who brings extensive expertise in high-stakes litigation and infrastructure projects.
Qatar > Dispute resolution
(Leading partners)Rashid Al Saad heads the dispute resolution department at Sharq Law Firm, which is noted by clients for its ‘grasp of complex delay, quantum and technical issues‘, and oversees debt and costs claims in the construction and real estate sector, along with financial disputes pertaining to Islamic banking. Al Saad’s extensive background in local disputes, as well as cross-border commercial matters, is complemented by Abdelraouf Elbekei‘s extensive litigation background. Marwa Ali Bamatraf has represented several multinational companies, along with government entities, in various civil and commercial disputes.
Qatar > Banking, finance and capital markets
Sharq Law Firm‘s team handles a range of financial sector matters, with notable activity in the petrochemicals industry. The team advises clients on matters requiring expertise in financing high-value energy and infrastructure projects, along with Shariah-compliant loan procurement for local and international clients. Marwa Ali Bamatraf heads the team, and is a port of call for financial transaction mandates requiring expertise in sukuk compliance. Founder and managing partner Rashid Al Saad is particularly active in cross-border matters.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading partners Qatar > Dispute resolution
- Leading partners Qatar > Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Leading partners Qatar > Projects, real estate and construction
- Dispute resolution Qatar
- Projects, real estate and construction Qatar
- Banking, finance and capital markets Qatar
- Commercial, corporate and M&A Qatar