General / Legal Counsel - Real Estate & Construction

About the role

The General / Legal Counsel acts as the primary in-house legal advisor, covering all aspects of real estate development and construction. Reporting to the CEO/Chairman, the role manages property transactions, construction contracts, regulatory compliance, project financing, dispute resolution and corporate legal matters, while advising senior management on legal risks and business decisions.

Key responsibilities

• Manage legal aspects of property acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, land transactions and real estate development agreements.
• Conduct legal due diligence and draft, review and negotiate sale and purchase agreements, construction contracts and related documents.
• Review and negotiate main contractor, subcontractor, consultant and FIDIC-based construction agreements.
• Ensure compliance with UAE real estate and construction regulations, including RERA, DLD and Dubai Municipality requirements.
• Advise on off-plan sales, SPAs, escrow accounts and Oqood registration.
• Support project financing arrangements, including facility agreements, mortgages, security documents and lender negotiations.
• Manage construction disputes, contractor claims, purchaser complaints, litigation and arbitration proceedings.
• Oversee corporate legal matters such as restructuring, shareholder agreements, board resolutions and statutory compliance.
• Identify legal risks, advise senior management and manage external legal counsel, budgets and law firm relationships.
• Develop legal policies, standard contract templates and internal procedures, and train internal departments.

Required profile

• Minimum 12+ years of post-qualification legal experience, with at least 7 years in UAE real estate and construction law.
• In-house experience with a UAE real estate developer, major contractor or leading law firm highly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) or JD; LLM is an advantage.
• Admission to practice law in the UAE or another recognized jurisdiction.
• Fluency in English is essential; Arabic is an advantage.

Required skills

• Drafting and negotiating FIDIC and construction contracts.
• Handling construction disputes, litigation and arbitration, especially through UAE courts and DIAC.
• Knowledge of UAE Real Estate Law, RERA, DLD and Dubai Municipality regulations.
• Legal drafting, negotiation, analytical and communication skills.
• Microsoft Office, legal research platforms and document management systems.