Director of Legal Affairs (UAE National)

Overview

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Legal Affairs function, ensuring effective legal support across the organization.
• Provide legal opinions, guidance, and advisory services to senior management and key stakeholders.
• Oversee the drafting, review, and interpretation of legislation, regulations, contracts, agreements, policies, and legal memoranda.
• Manage and follow up on litigation matters, grievances, disputes, complaints, and legal proceedings.
• Supervise and coordinate submissions to the UAE Cabinet and the Ministerial Council for Services.
• Develop and implement strategic and operational plans, objectives, and KPIs for the Legal Affairs function.
• Ensure legal compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and governance requirements.
• Identify and mitigate legal risks while safeguarding the organization's interests.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with government entities, regulatory bodies, and key stakeholders.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Law (Master's Degree preferred).
• Minimum 10 years of progressive legal experience, preferably within government, semi-government, regulatory, or public sector environments.
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing legal teams, legal operations, or corporate legal functions.
• Strong knowledge of UAE Federal Laws, legislation, regulatory frameworks, and governance requirements.
• Proven experience providing legal opinions, advisory services, and strategic legal guidance to senior management and executive leadership.
• Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and interpreting legislation, regulations, legal memoranda, policies, contracts, agreements, and governance documents.
• Experience managing litigation, disputes, grievances, complaints, and legal case matters while protecting organizational interests.
• Fluent in Arabic and English (spoken and written).
• Ability to prepare, review, and negotiate legal memoranda, contracts, legislation, and regulations in both Arabic and English.

Technical Competencies

• Federal Legislation and Laws
• Legal Drafting
• Legal Advisory
• Litigation and Case Management
• Contract Preparation and Review
• Governance and Legal Compliance
• Drafting Legislation and Regulations