4.9
Google rating
25+
Lawyers
4,500+
Matters handled
DIAC · ICC · LCIA

Lawyers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Kayrouz & Associates handles the licensing, compliance and corporate work that keeps companies running, and the disputes and arbitration when matters escalate. Offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Beirut, since 2006.

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Pierre Kayrouz
Founder and CEO
consults in 5 areas of law
Maria Valeyeva
Partner and Managing Director
Maria Valeyeva
Georges Touma
Head Litigator
consults in 5 areas of law
Saeed Gaber
Head of Execution Department
consults in 6 areas of law
Souhad Al Ghorayeb
Senior Legal Consultant
consults in 5 areas of law
Souhad Al Ghorayeb
Sandy Geagea
Legal Consultant
consults in 5 areas of law
Sandy Y. Geagea
Jenifer Abu Nasr
Junior Legal Counsel
consults in 3 areas of law
Jenifer Abu Nasr
Muhammed Ali Charif
Junior Legal Counsel
consults in 3 areas of law
Muhammed Ali Charif
Carlos Rahme
Senior Legal Consultant
consults in 5 areas of law
Carlos Rahme
Roshanraj Seetahul
Senior Corporate Counsel
Priya Bavanasi
Senior Corporate Lawyer
consults in 4 areas of law
Lathamani Chandrashekar
Head of Corporate Department
consults in 2 areas of law
Lathamani Chandrashekar
Mark Engelman
Intellectual Property Barrister
consults in 3 areas of law
Professor Mark Engelman
Patricia Abi Mansour
Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Business Development
consults in 3 areas of law
Marium Razzaq
Solicitor
consults in 3 areas of law
Göksu Öznergiz
Junior Corporate Counsel
consults in 3 areas of law
Daniela Lano
Client Relations Executive (Italian)
Rita Semaan
Legal Consultant
consults in 4 areas of law
Rita Semaan
Parvathy Pavithran
HR and Document Controller
Chantal Elia Khawam
Front Desk Specialist
Nashita Nazneen
Senior Corporate Counsel
consults in 3 areas of law
Nashita Nazneen

How we think

September 8, 2026

Off-plan project cancellation in Dubai and what happens to the escrow account

RERA can cancel a Dubai off-plan project on nine grounds. Four of them concern the land or the master developer rather than the conduct of the developer selling the units. Once the decision is final, the escrow agent must refund purchasers within 14 days and the developer must cover any shortfall within 60 days, with no retention.
Read more
September 8, 2026

UAE franchise law for F&B brands and master franchisees

Federal Law No. 3 of 2022 applies to franchise agreements the parties register. What registration gives the local partner, and what it takes from the franchisor.
Read more

About Us

A UAE law firm in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah

Kayrouz & Associates is a UAE law firm founded in 2006 by Pierre Kayrouz. Our lawyers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi act for companies, founders, family offices and private clients across the Emirates, with further offices in Sharjah and Beirut.

The firm covers nine practice areas, from arbitration and construction through to corporate and commercial, criminal, employment, family, intellectual property, litigation and real estate. We appear before the onshore UAE courts, the DIFC and ADGM courts, and arbitral tribunals under DIAC, ICC and LCIA rules.

Clients come to us for two kinds of work. The first is the corporate, licensing and compliance work that keeps a business operating within UAE law. The second is the dispute, once a contract, a regulator or a counterparty forces the issue.
Learn more about us

Practice Areas

Expertise
Legal practice areas in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

The firm covers nine practice areas across the UAE. Each is led by lawyers who appear on these matters before the relevant court, tribunal or regulator.

Our expertise

Arbitration

Arbitration lawyers in Dubai acting on DIAC, ICC and LCIA proceedings, arbitration clause drafting, award enforcement, set-aside applications and emergency relief across the UAE.

Construction

Construction lawyers in Dubai acting on FIDIC claims, delay and defect disputes, decennial liability, unpaid payment certificates, and contractor termination across the UAE.

Corporate and commercial

Corporate lawyers in Dubai acting on company formation, shareholders agreements, acquisitions, commercial contracts and corporate tax compliance across mainland, DIFC, ADGM and the free zones.

Criminal

Criminal lawyers in Dubai acting on financial crime and fraud allegations, bounced cheque cases, travel bans, defamation complaints, and defence before the public prosecution.

Employment

Employment lawyers in Dubai acting on termination and end-of-service disputes, MOHRE claims, Emiratisation obligations, non-compete enforcement, and DIFC and ADGM employment rules.

Family

Family lawyers in Dubai acting on divorce under the personal status and non-Muslim civil laws, child custody, maintenance, wills and inheritance across the UAE courts.

Intellectual property

Intellectual property lawyers in Dubai acting on trademark registration and opposition, copyright and trade secret protection, licensing agreements, and infringement proceedings.

Litigation and dispute resolution

Litigation lawyers in Dubai acting on commercial claims, debt recovery, professional negligence, judgment enforcement, and proceedings before the onshore, DIFC and ADGM courts.

Real estate

Real estate lawyers in Dubai acting on off-plan purchases, sale and purchase agreements, escrow and RERA compliance, lease and tenancy disputes, and jointly owned property claims.
our people

Our lawyers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Kayrouz & Associates is a UAE firm of lawyers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with a Beirut office, known for sharp thinking and efficient execution.

From corporate and real estate to family and criminal matters, our 25+ team operates across 9 practice areas, combining courtroom skill and deal experience to help clients move with confidence across the region.
find people
Portrait of Pierre Kayrouz, Chief Legal Officer at Kayrouz & Associates, expert in litigation and arbitration

Pierre Kayrouz

Founder and CEO

Professional headshot of Maria Valeyeva, Chief Compliance Officer, specializing in regulatory compliance and office management

Maria Valeyeva

Partner and Managing Director

Headshot of Georges Touma, Head Litigator with expertise in civil, commercial, and real estate litigation

Georges Touma

Head Litigator

Portrait of Lathamani Chandrashekar, senior corporate counsel with over 14 years of experience advising clients in corporate and commercial law, arbitration, international trade, and sports law.

Lathamani Chandrashekar

Head of Corporate Department

Photo of Nashita Nazneen A., Junior Corporate Counsel with a strong academic background and litigation training

Nashita Nazneen

Senior Corporate Counsel

Portrait of Professor Mark Engelman, UK barrister specializing in intellectual property, media, defamation, and commercial law

Mark Engelman

Intellectual Property Barrister

Image of Rita Semaan, Legal Consultant with experience in civil, criminal, and employment law

Rita Semaan

Legal Consultant

Portrait of Carlos Rahme, Senior Legal Consultant with more than 15 years of experience in corporate, civil, and labor law

Carlos Rahme

Senior Legal Consultant

Portrait of Souhad Al Ghorayeb, Senior Legal Consultant specializing in corporate structuring and bankruptcy law

Souhad Al Ghorayeb

Senior Legal Consultant

Photo of Sandy Y. Geagea, Legal Consultant with cross-border litigation and mediation experience

Sandy Geagea

Legal Consultant

Portrait of Saeed Gaber, Legal Research Analyst experienced in civil and criminal law in Egypt and the UAE

Saeed Gaber

Head of Execution Department

Portrait of Muhammed Ali Charif, a professional male litigator with a composed expression, dressed in formal business attire, photographed against a neutral background.

Muhammed Ali Charif

Junior Legal Counsel

Image of Jenifer Abu Nasr, Paralegal and international dispute resolution specialist

Jenifer Abu Nasr

Paralegal

Professional photo of Patricia Abi Mansour, Business Development Manager with a legal background and marketing expertise

Patricia Abi Mansour

CCO and Director of Business Development

Portrait of Pierre Kayrouz, Chief Legal Officer at Kayrouz & Associates, expert in litigation and arbitration

Pierre Kayrouz

Founder and CEO

Professional headshot of Maria Valeyeva, Chief Compliance Officer, specializing in regulatory compliance and office management

Maria Valeyeva

Partner and Managing Director

Headshot of Georges Touma, Head Litigator with expertise in civil, commercial, and real estate litigation

Georges Touma

Head Litigator

Portrait of Lathamani Chandrashekar, senior corporate counsel with over 14 years of experience advising clients in corporate and commercial law, arbitration, international trade, and sports law.

Lathamani Chandrashekar

Head of Corporate Department

Photo of Nashita Nazneen A., Junior Corporate Counsel with a strong academic background and litigation training

Nashita Nazneen

Senior Corporate Counsel

Portrait of Professor Mark Engelman, UK barrister specializing in intellectual property, media, defamation, and commercial law

Mark Engelman

Intellectual Property Barrister

Image of Rita Semaan, Legal Consultant with experience in civil, criminal, and employment law

Rita Semaan

Legal Consultant

Portrait of Carlos Rahme, Senior Legal Consultant with more than 15 years of experience in corporate, civil, and labor law

Carlos Rahme

Senior Legal Consultant

Portrait of Souhad Al Ghorayeb, Senior Legal Consultant specializing in corporate structuring and bankruptcy law

Souhad Al Ghorayeb

Senior Legal Consultant

Photo of Sandy Y. Geagea, Legal Consultant with cross-border litigation and mediation experience

Sandy Geagea

Legal Consultant

Portrait of Saeed Gaber, Legal Research Analyst experienced in civil and criminal law in Egypt and the UAE

Saeed Gaber

Head of Execution Department

Portrait of Muhammed Ali Charif, a professional male litigator with a composed expression, dressed in formal business attire, photographed against a neutral background.

Muhammed Ali Charif

Junior Legal Counsel

Image of Jenifer Abu Nasr, Paralegal and international dispute resolution specialist

Jenifer Abu Nasr

Paralegal

Professional photo of Patricia Abi Mansour, Business Development Manager with a legal background and marketing expertise

Patricia Abi Mansour

CCO and Director of Business Development

4,500+

Matters handled

25+

Full-time lawyers & consultants

96%

Client satisfaction rate

16

Average lawyer PQE

HERE TO HELP
Guiding you with clear legal solutions to protect your rights and interests.
contact us

testimonials

I've worked with Pierre and Kayrouz & Associates on several occasions and have always appreciated their clear, prompt, and reliable legal advice. Pierre combines legal expertise with an understanding of broader financial and cultural factors, which made me feel supported and in capable hands during difficult times.
Edward Jones
Owner of Fitness Zone DMCC
testimonials
Polite and highly professional. Thoughtful, experienced and extremely knowledgable. I am very happy with Mr. Kayrouz as he represented me with nothing but respect, compassion and some of the best help I have ever had!
Ziad El Kasir
Battle Park Owner
testimonials
Pierre Kayrouz was respectful, thoughtful, and highly professional throughout the process. His calm, knowledgeable approach gave me great confidence and peace of mind. I felt genuinely heard and supported every step of the way.
Rene Stephen
testimonials
It’s always great to see that people are interested to know how their business is perceived by clients. I’ve been really impressed with how your company has handled this particular piece of work. Hopefully we can work together in the future. Thanks again.
Mr. Tom
testimonials
The support, professionalism, and dedication this firm provided during one of the most challenging periods our family has faced was exceptional. They combined outstanding legal expertise with real compassion, integrity, and care, and the communication throughout was thoughtful and reassuring. We are deeply grateful for the time and commitment they invested in achieving a successful outcome and helping our family move forward.
Parent of a client

Legal insights on UAE law

Litigation and dispute resolution
Construction

Off-plan project cancellation in Dubai and what happens to the escrow account

RERA can cancel a Dubai off-plan project on nine grounds. Four of them concern the land or the master developer rather than the conduct of the developer selling the units. Once the decision is final, the escrow agent must refund purchasers within 14 days and the developer must cover any shortfall within 60 days, with no retention.

read article
September 8, 2026
Corporate and commercial

UAE franchise law for F&B brands and master franchisees

Federal Law No. 3 of 2022 applies to franchise agreements the parties register. What registration gives the local partner, and what it takes from the franchisor.

read article
September 8, 2026
Corporate and commercial

Open Finance licensing in the UAE

One Open Finance Licence covers two options, and the applicant picks Data Sharing, Service Initiation or both at the point of filing. This guide covers what the licence excludes, the obligations already sitting on banks and insurers, and why DIFC and ADGM permissions do not reach the mainland API hub.

read article
September 1, 2026
View all news and insights

Our offices in the UAE and Lebanon

Dubai, UAE

Address: Business Bay, Empire Heights, block B, office 1604

PO Box: 415048

Opening hours:
‍
Mon-Thu: 9am-5pm
Fri: 9am-12pm

contact us

Sharjah, UAE

Address: Sharjah Media City (SHAMS), Al Messaned, Sharjah, UAE

Opening hours:
‍
By appointment only.

contact us

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Address: Electra Street, Al Mazrooei building, 9th floor, office 903

PO Box: 62829

Opening hours:
‍
Mon-Thu: 9am-5pm
Fri: 9am-12pm

contact us

Beirut, Lebanon

Address: Miziara Centre, above Sea Sweet, Block C, 4th floor

Opening hours:
‍
Mon-Thu: 9am-5pm
Fri: 9am-12pm

Email: [email protected]

contact us