Legal services for the hospitality industry in Dubai & UAE
Why clients trust us
Advise on Dubai DET hospitality permits, hotel classification, and ongoing compliance
Support Dubai Municipality food safety requirements and enforcement exposure
Draft and enforce hotel management, franchise, and brand licensing agreements
Act in lease, fit-out, and landlord enforcement matters for hospitality assets
Run hospitality disputes in onshore courts, DIFC Courts, and arbitration when needed
Manage reputational and operational risk in time-critical, guest-facing businesses
Common issues we handle in hospitality
Hotel management and operator issues
We advise on disputes between hotel owners and operators arising from management agreements, performance standards, fee structures, reporting obligations, termination rights, and brand compliance failures.
Lease and real estate exposure
We act in matters involving hotel and F&B leases, turnover rent, renewal and termination rights, fit-out obligations, landlord enforcement, and real estate structures that impact operational control.
Development and handover problems
We represent owners, developers, and investors in disputes arising from hospitality developments, including delays, defects, variations, cost overruns, and handover issues affecting opening timelines.
Franchise and brand control matters
We handle issues arising from franchise and brand licensing arrangements, including royalty and marketing fees, IP compliance, quality standards, audit rights, and exit scenarios.
Licensing and regulatory enforcement
We advise hospitality businesses facing licensing challenges, regulatory investigations, fines, and enforcement action that threaten operations, management continuity, or reputational standing.
Who we represent in hospitality
We act for the parties who carry real risk in UAE hospitality: hotel owners, operators, developers, restaurant groups, and investors.
Whether you are launching a new venue, running a branded operation, or protecting a hospitality asset, we focus on your position when licences, leases, management terms, or brand standards come under pressure.
We advise hotel groups on management agreements, brand standards, and operational compliance across Dubai and the UAE, including disputes that can affect performance and reputation.
International and regional hotel groups
We represent owners and asset managers protecting high-value hospitality assets, including operator issues, lease exposure, and enforcement steps that impact revenues and exits.
Hotel owners and asset managers
We support developers and investors on project structuring and hospitality development risk, including delays, handover issues, defect exposure, and contractor claims that affect opening timelines.
Hospitality developers and investors
Restaurant and food service operators
Entertainment and leisure operators
Family offices and private investment vehicles
How we handle hospitality matters
We have handled hundreds of resolved disputes across regulated and dispute-heavy industries, including hospitality.The matters we advise on are typically:Financially materialMulti-party and document-intensiveTime-criticalExposed to regulatory and enforcement risk
We have handled hundreds of resolved disputes across regulated and dispute-heavy industries, including hospitality.
The matters we advise on are typically:
Financially material
Multi-party and document-intensive
Time-critical
Exposed to regulatory and enforcement risk
We assess your position
You tell us what's happening. We review the contracts and correspondence and give you a straight answer on where you stand.
We set a strategy
We agree on the objective, the approach, and the fee structure before we start work.
We execute
Whether it's negotiation, arbitration, or litigation, we handle the matter directly and keep you informed throughout.
We close it out
Our goal is resolution, not prolonged billing. We push for outcomes that protect your commercial position.
Specialist legal areas connected to this sector
Latest industry insights
Restaurant and F&B Business Setup in Dubai: Comprehensive Legal and Strategic Guide for 2025
Dubai's F&B sector is projected to reach $52.76 billion by 2030, creating substantial opportunities for restaurant and hospitality businesses. This comprehensive guide covers legal structures, licensing requirements, costs, compliance obligations, and strategic considerations for establishing successful F&B operations in Dubai.