Habib Al Mulla & Partners

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Founder

Dr. Habib is one of the UAE's most highly respected legal authorities. He has over forty years of experience in UAE law and has drafted many of the modern legislative structures in place in Dubai today.

Dr. Habib is a strong advocate for the improvement and modernization of UAE Laws. He is a frequent commentator on the legislation and economy of the UAE and is often consulted to draft and advise on Federal and Emirate-level laws.

He created the concept of financial freezones in the UAE and was the architect of the legal framework establishing the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the first financial freezone in the UAE. Dr Habib also served as Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

Dr. Habib has held numerous prominent government positions over the years, including being a member of the UAE Federal National Council, the federal parliament of the UAE, a member of the Legislative Committee in charge of reviewing federal legislation as well and a member of the Economic Committee, in charge of reviewing fiscal and economic policy of the federation.

Dr. Habib is Chairman of the CIArb (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators) UAE Committee and most recently served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC). He is also a member of the Board of the Dubai International Chamber and the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) Academy Board.

Chambers 2023 ranks Dr. Habib Al Mulla as having “a leading reputation across GCC, maintaining a longstanding dispute resolution practice both in the local and DIFC courts. He is frequently appointed as sole arbitrator in significant disputes and also remains active as arbitration counsel and expert witness.”

English, Arabic

Chairman of the CIArb (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators) UAE Committee. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), 2015-2019. Member of the ICC Institute. Member of the UAE ICC National Committee. Member of the Panel of Experts of the Broadcasting and Publications Standards Tribunal of the Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority (TECOM) in Dubai. Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Director of the Supervisory Board of Rasmala (Regional Investment Banking Group). Chairman of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, 2003-2006. Vice President of the Board of Governors of the American University in Dubai. Member of the Board of Trustees of the Dubai School of Government. Member of the Federal National Council, 2000-2002. Member of the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR from ICC United Arab Emirates. Member of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) Academy Board.

Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge (1993). Master of Law from Harvard Law School (1987). LLB in Shari'a and Law from the UAE University (1984).