UAE
About
White & Case is a top-tier US-headquartered firm with a deep presence in the Middle East region, including in the United Arab Emirates, for more than 35 years. We are a full-service office with one of the largest teams on the ground in the UAE, approximately 100 lawyers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and more than 140 lawyers across the Middle East. Our presence in the UAE showcases a vision of providing clients with a “one-stop-shop” legal service that includes US, English and local law-qualified specialists with a deep understanding and appreciation of the Middle East region, and the UAE.
Comprehensive practice coverage
Our lawyers in the UAE provide clients with advice on finance, including debt finance (conventional and Islamic finance), capital markets, financial restructuring and insolvency, M&A and corporate, and commercial law, private equity, energy, infrastructure and project development (including public-private partnerships), construction and dispute resolution, real estate and fintech & regulatory.
Partner-led team, with international expertise and deep local knowledge
Our partner-led team combines international expertise gained on high-profile cross-border transactions with an in-depth understanding of local law. Our team also brings:
- Strong relationships with UAE regulators, government institutions and authorities
- UAE law advice and local law legal opinions
- Practicing English, New York and UAE-qualified lawyers
- An on-the-ground team of more than 90 lawyers with fluent Arabic speakers who understand UAE business practices
- Experience of advising on complex transactions across the UAE and other countries across the Middle East region
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
"White & Case's excellent technical skills, seamless knowledge and expertise, great understanding and responsiveness set them apart from others." – Banking & Finance
"White & Case's team provides a business-oriented approach that is focused on getting transactions done." – Capital Markets
"White & Case has outstanding regulatory and legal knowledge of different jurisdictions, and they also have great commercial understanding." – Corporate/M&A
"Senior team members are very well trained and there is a pool of experts available whenever required to address any technical issues." – Corporate/M&A
"The lawyers at White & Case are very well-trained, work seamlessly across offices and teams and are real experts in the field of construction law." – International & Cross-Border Capabilities
Chambers Global 2025
Tier 1 – Banking & Finance: Corporate Finance (Including Islamic Lending)
Tier 1 – Capital Markets
Tier 1 – Commercial, Corporate & M&A
Tier 1 – Construction
Tier 1 – Infrastructure & Projects (Including Project Finance)
The Legal 500 EMEA 2025
Capital Markets Firm of the Year
Projects and Infrastructure Firm of the Year
Deal of the Year: Bridgepoint's sale of Diaverum to M42
The Legal 500 MENA Awards 2025
Middle East-wide Law Firm of the Year: Transactional
Chambers Middle East Awards 2025
Technology, Media and Telecommunications Law Firm of the Year
Fintech Law Firm of the Year
Asian Legal Business Middle East Awards 2024
Experience
Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline
Representation of the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline LLP, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), in the inaugural issuance of US$3 billion senior secured bonds. The Rule 144A/Regulation S bonds were the first capital markets issuance by the ADNOC group. The bond issuance was also one of the largest non-sovereign bond issuances in the history of the Middle East.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
Representation of ADNOC in connection with its strategic partnership with Baker Hughes, a GE Company (BHGE: NYSE), in connection with ADNOC's subsidiary, ADNOC Drilling. The transaction also involved BHGE acquiring 5 percent of ADNOC Drilling for US$550 million. This deal was named ”MENA M&A Deal of the Year“ by IJGlobal in 2019.
Amanat Holding PJSC
Representation of the joint lead managers in connection with the AED 1.375 billion IPO of 55 percent of the share capital of Amanat Holdings PJSC on the Dubai Financial Market.
Al Fahim Group
Representation of Noor Bank PJSC, as arranger, in connection with the dual-tranche AED 800 million Islamic development financing in Dubai for Al Fahim Group.
Al Ghurair Investments
Representation of Al Ghurair Investments in relation to its AED 1.2 billion Shari'a-compliant syndicated real estate development financing.
Barakah nuclear project
Representation of the ADWEA/ADWEC in connection with the power purchase agreement for the 5,6000 MW US$35 billion Shuweihat nuclear power project being constructed at Barakah, Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This project was recognized as "MENA Public Sector Financing Deal of the Year" by IJGlobal in 2016.
DP World
Representation of the managers in the Dubai-based global port operator DP World’s issuances of US$300 million notes due 2048 under its Global Medium Term Note (GMTN) Programme, and US$1 billion trust certificates due 2029 under its Trust Certificate Issuance Programme. Both issuances were oversubscribed, with the order books for the GMTN issuance and trust certificates issuance reaching US$1.6 billion and US$4.6 billion, respectively.
