Habib Al Mulla & Partners

Tax and Financial Crimes

Partner and Head of Tax and Financial Crimes

Mohamed El Baghdady is a Partner and Head of Tax and Financial Crimes at Habib Al Mulla and Partners, with nearly 15 years of experience in dispute resolution, tax, and regulatory strategy.

He is ranked Band 2 in Tax by Chambers and Partners (Global Guide 2026) and leads a highly regarded tax practice that was named LexisNexis Tax Team of the Year (2025). Mohamed advises multinational corporations, regional groups, and high‑net‑worth individuals on tax implementation, structuring, VAT, excise, and disputes and enforcement matters, including high‑value and precedent‑setting tax controversies. Under his leadership, the team was also recognised at the ITR EMEA Awards 2025 for Impact Case of the Year – Tax Dispute, reflecting its strength in complex and strategic tax litigation.

Mohamed is a former public prosecutor specialising in financial crimes and taxation. He is known for his strategic oversight of complex tax disputes, guiding clients through audits, administrative appeals, and litigation, and for leading the development of high‑stakes legal strategies and defences before UAE courts and tax dispute resolution bodies.

Representative Matters

• Advising one of the largest financial institutions on a USD1 billion fraudulent scheme.

• Advising a governmental authority and a high-profile member of the royal family in Dubai on the possible criminal liability arising from fraudulent and embezzlement scheme conducted by a number of high-profile employees.

• Represented the shareholders of a health services company against several criminal cases for fraud and bounced guarantee cheques.

• Representing one of the largest insurance providers worldwide on a cybercrime action against one of its former employees involving sensitive and confidential information.

• Represented a government-owned investment body in filing a collective criminal claim along with related civil claims against Investors for Public Funds Embezzlement and Breach of Trust (AED 400 million).

• Advised multinational clients across various industries on their compliance and anti-bribery policies and programs and represented then in related criminal actions in the UAE.

• Representing RAK Investment Authority (RAKEZ currently) in a number of civil and criminal claims against major shareholders in POLO RAK Project in RAK (Claim value: AED 250,000,000)

• Representing RAK Investment Authority (RAKEZ currently) in a number of civil and criminal proceedings filed against their previous CEO for embezzlement and breach of trust. (Claims value: AED 100,000,000)

• Representing RAK ICC in a bitcoin fraud scheme settlement negotiations and advising on same.

English, Arabic

Egyptian Bar Association

• Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indiana University (LLM) (2013) • Faculty of Law, Cairo University (LLB) (2011)