Legal & Contract Manager MEA

About the role

Harmattan AI is seeking a commercially minded Legal Counsel to join its legal team in Abu Dhabi. Reporting to the General Counsel, you will act as a hands‑on legal business partner for sales and other functions, focusing on Arabic‑speaking markets.

Key responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate customer, partnership, supply and procurement agreements, including defence‑procurement documentation.
• Support complex negotiations with defence ministries, armed forces, public‑sector bodies and industrial partners.
• Build scalable contracting standards, playbooks and approval processes.
• Advise on legal and regulatory issues around autonomous and AI‑enabled defence systems, export‑control, sanctions and trade‑compliance.
• Provide counsel on AI, data, cybersecurity and IP matters affecting the business.
• Support entity governance, board documentation and statutory filings across Arabic‑speaking markets.
• Manage employment matters with the People team and external counsel, and handle disputes and pre‑litigation assessments.
• Coordinate external local counsel, manage legal spend and develop legal processes and templates for business scaling.

Required profile

• Qualified attorney or in‑house legal counsel with approximately 5 years of relevant experience in law firms and in‑house/tech or defence environments.
• Native‑level Arabic and fluent professional English.
• Strong track record drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
• Solid grounding in contract and corporate law.
• Genuine interest in defence, dual‑use technology, AI or other regulated sectors.
• Comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders in fast‑moving, high‑stakes situations.
• Eligible to obtain and maintain any required security clearance or authorization.
• LL.M. from a US or UK institution or exposure to defence/public‑procurement/export‑control matters is a plus.

Required skills

• Native Arabic proficiency.
• Professional English fluency.