Advisor – Bilateral Agreements

Iris Executives; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading government institution in Abu Dhabi is seeking an Advisor/Expert in Bilateral Agreements, specifically for UAE Nationals. This senior role involves providing legal and policy advice on trade agreements, drafting treaty provisions, and supporting negotiations to protect UAE positions. The ideal candidate will have a Master's degree in a relevant field, 10-15 years of experience in legal and trade policy, and excellent communication skills. This is a full-time position based in Abu Dhabi.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years in government or legal advisory roles with exposure to international economic policy.
• Expertise in WTO, GATT, and FTA frameworks.
• Experience representing government in trade negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Advise on bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
• Review and draft treaties and MoUs.
• Support leadership in international negotiations.
• Monitor global trade developments relevant to UAE interests.

Skills

Legal drafting skills

Negotiation capabilities

Analytical skills

Communication skills in English

Stakeholder management

Familiarity with economic diplomacy

Education

Master’s in International Law, Public Policy, or International Relations

PhD preferred

Job description

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Posted on 24/10/2025

Advisor / Expert – Bilateral Agreements (ONLY FOR UAE NATIONALS)

Level: Senior Advisory (Grade 16–17)

Entity: A leading UAE government institution in foreign affairs

Reports to: Director, Bilateral Agreements Department

About IRIS Executives

IRIS Executives is the UAE’s Emiratisation Executive Search leader since 2010. We proudly support national talent into high-impact leadership roles across government and strategic sectors. For this mandate, we are partnering with a leading UAE government institution to identify an Advisor/Expert in Bilateral Agreements (UAE Nationals only).

Role Overview

The Advisor/Expert will provide high-level legal and policy advisory on bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, ensuring alignment with the UAE’s economic and foreign policy priorities. You will review and draft treaty provisions, brief senior leadership, and support negotiations to ensure UAE positions are clearly articulated and protected in international forums.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise on the legal and policy dimensions of bilateral and multilateral trade and investment agreements in line with national objectives.
• Review, draft, and interpret treaties, MoUs, and FTA texts, ensuring consistency with international trade law, WTO frameworks, and FTA structures.
• Conduct risk/opportunity analysis on negotiation drafts; recommend negotiating positions and safeguard clauses.
• Support/advise leadership during international negotiations; prepare talking points, position papers, and briefing notes for high-level meetings and missions.
• Coordinate with domestic stakeholders (e.g., economy, customs, justice) to harmonize treaty obligations with national legislation.
• Monitor global trade developments, WTO rulings and dispute settlements relevant to UAE interests; translate insights into actionable guidance.
• Support internal frameworks for treaty ratification, amendment, and enforcement.
• Represent UAE positions in relevant regional/international forums when required.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Education

• Master’s in International Law, Public Policy, or International Relations (PhD preferred).

Requirements

Experience

• 10–15 years in government, intergovernmental organizations, or legal advisory roles with direct exposure to international economic/trade policy.
• Demonstrated expertise in WTO, GATT, FTA and multilateral economic frameworks.
• Hands‑on experience representing or advising government in trade/investment negotiations.
• Proven ability to analyze, draft, and interpret international agreements and legal texts.
• Familiarity with economic diplomacy and regulatory harmonization.
• Deep knowledge of WTO law and FTA negotiation mechanisms.
• Precise legal drafting and advanced analytical skills.
• Strong negotiation and diplomacy capabilities.
• Ability to interpret trade policies within international frameworks and translate them for decision-makers.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills in English; Arabic or French is an asset.
• High professional integrity, discretion, and stakeholder management.
• UAE Nationals only.
• Eligible for UAE residency and security clearance.
• Availability to be based in Abu Dhabi on a full-time basis.

Government | Foreign Affairs | International Trade Policy & Business Diplomacy

How to Apply (through Iris Executives)

Interested candidates are invited to:

1. Request a Data Form from your recruiter and fill it out (takes <1 minute to complete).
2. Send your CV to Iris Executives together with the completed form.
3. If your CV is not updated, don’t worry, we’ll update/format your CV at no cost.
4. Compensation details and any sensitive information will be discussed confidentially at later stages.