Aviation Legal Advisor

DFS Aviation Services; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

An international aviation services provider seeks a Legal Advisor to ensure compliance with legal frameworks in a complex Air Navigation Service Provider environment. The role includes advising on aviation legislation, drafting contracts, and supporting safety investigations. Candidates must hold a law degree and have significant experience in aviation law. Attractive salary and benefits package included, promoting work-life balance and professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive salary package

Annual airfare allowance

Medical insurance coverage

Generous leave entitlement

Qualifications

• Proven experience advising on aviation legislation and regulatory compliance.
• Minimum 6–8 years of legal experience, with at least 5 years in aviation law.
• Exposure to ICAO Annex 13 and safety investigation privilege.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialized legal support across aviation regulation.
• Draft, negotiate, and execute ANSP-related contracts.
• Advise on liability and insurance structures related to aviation operations.

Skills

Aviation legislation

Regulatory compliance

Legal drafting

International air law

Education

Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB or equivalent)

Master’s degree (LLM) in Aviation Law

Job description

Live your potential with DFS Aviation Services

We are a part of the DFS Group, one of the largest air navigation service providers in the world. We focus on the provision of air navigation services and the sale of software solutions, consulting, training services to airports and air navigation service providers worldwide. As a modern aviation company, we guarantee the perfect mix of proven experience and progressive ideas. High quality standards are just as much part of our philosophy as a lean organization, international networking and honest ambitions. We offer our employees and associates challenging and creative jobs with one of the most secure and attractive employers in Germany, in one of the most exciting industries.

Discover What's Possible

We are looking for a Legal Advisor to ensure the organisation meets its legal, regulatory, and investigative obligations within a highly complex and safety-critical Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) environment.

The postholder will act as a trusted advisor to safety, operational, and executive leadership, proactively identifying legal risks, shaping risk mitigation strategies, and ensuring alignment with UAE and international legal frameworks.

This role will be based in Al Maktoum Airport (DWC) and Dubai International Airport (DXB) as you work with Dubai Air Navigation Services (Dans). Dans provides air navigation services at four airports in the UAE, one of which is the world's busiest airport for international passengers, where their mission is to empower and develop all their people in delivering world-leading air navigation services that exceed every standard, assure their customers, and shape global innovation.

This role will be reporting to the Vice President of Safety and Security.

Your Responsibilities

• Provide specialised legal support across aviation regulation, ICAO Annex 13 investigations, sovereign and international air law, contract and commercial law, and regulatory compliance.
• Provide expert legal support for the drafting, negotiation, and execution of ANSP-related contracts (service agreements, cross-border coordination, procurement, technology and UTM frameworks).
• Monitor developments in international air law affecting sovereignty, airspace management, liability regimes, drones/UTM integration and cross-jurisdictional obligations.
• Support regulatory compliance by reviewing policies, procedures, safety cases and change proposals to ensure alignment with legal obligations and preserve investigatory privilege where applicable.
• Draft, review and negotiate MoUs, collaboration agreements and inter-state aviation coordination documents with attention to jurisdictional exposure, indemnity, privilege and enforcement risk.
• Advise on liability, indemnity and insurance structures related to ATM/ANS/UTM operations, airport expansion, infrastructure projects and cross-border service arrangements.
• Provide legal input on safety cases, risk assessments, and operational documentation where regulatory compliance is a critical consideration.
• Support safety investigation outputs and responses to legal claims, regulatory enforcement or external challenge, coordinating with insurers, external counsel and authorities.
• Prepare and deliver internal training on legal aspects of just culture, incident confidentiality, disclosure rules and privilege protection in investigations.
• Represent the organisation in legal forums, regulatory audits, inquiry proceedings and high-level external engagements where legal representation is required.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in law (LLB or equivalent) is essential
• Master’s degree (LLM) or specialisation in Aviation Law is highly desirable.
• Proven experience advising on aviation legislation, regulatory compliance or state-level investigations.
• Recognized qualification in Aviation Safety Management or relevant alternative.
• Minimum 6–8 years of legal experience, with at least 5 years in aviation law.
• Have experience working as qualified and practicing lawyer
• Exposure to ICAO Annex 13, safety investigation privilege or legal aspects of SMS/Just Culture.
• Knowledge of ICAO regulations, safety management systems and procedures.

What you get

• A competitive salary package, that is excellent compared to industry standards.
• An annual airfare allowance to visit your family and friends at home, contribution to your children's school costs, excellent medical insurance coverage for all our employees and life insurance.
• Work life balance based on fair, transparent and employee-friendly shift models, working hours and a generous leave entitlement.
• Corporate culture which is characterized by professionalism, which has focused on staff and client needs for decades.

Working @ DAS

Working at DFS Aviation Services means working in a diverse and dynamic team of professionals being passionate about advancing aviation safety and efficiency. Since 2017, the #DASTeam has grown to over 400 team members participating in various air traffic management projects at 17 locations in 6 countries.

Our people come from a variety of backgrounds, bringing unique skills and perspectives that enrich our company culture and drive innovation in air traffic management. From air traffic controllers to software developers and engineers, and from project managers to customer service experts, our #DASTeam works collaboratively to ensure the skies remain safe for every one of us.