Legal Counsel

SABIS®; Dubai; On-site; AED 400,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

SABIS® is seeking an experienced in-house counsel to align regional operations with Headquarters, review contracts, and ensure compliance across jurisdictions. The role provides strategic legal support to Regional Operations Directors and requires proactive risk assessment.

You will draft and scrutinize agreements, supervise governance tasks, monitor regulatory developments in UAE and GCC, and coordinate with external counsel as needed to safeguard the group’s interests.

Qualifications

• LL.B. is required.
• 6-7 years in-house legal experience in a corporate setting.
• Experience across multiple jurisdictions is advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of UAE/GCC laws and regulatory landscape.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and negotiation skills.
• Demonstrates ethical conduct and professional judgment.

Responsibilities

• Assist headquartersLegal Department with analyzing and advising on diverse legal matters.
• Provide analysis and recommendations on contract, tort, employment, corporate, and commercial law; escalate when needed.
• Draft/review broad range of contracts and legal documents with HQ alignment.
• Support contract templates, policies, and contract lifecycle management.
• Perform company secretarial tasks: minutes, governance records, compliance.

Skills

Legal analysis

Contract drafting

Regulatory compliance

Jurisdiction coordination

In-house counsel

Ethical conduct

Governance

Education

Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)

Master’s degree in law

Job description

Job Scope:

Act as the primary local legal liaison, ensuring that all legal advice, documentation, negotiations, regulatory matters, risk assessments, transactions, contracts, and other legal matters are coordinated with and reviewed by Legal Department at Headquarters, and are negotiated, executed, and delivered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, internal policies, Legal Department requirements, and agreed timelines, while providing legal support to Regional Operations Directors on jurisdiction-specific requirements.

Main Responsibilities:

• Assist the Legal Department at the Headquarters in analyzing, managing, and advising on diverse legal and compliance matters.
• Provide legal analysis and recommendations on matters relating to contract and tort law, employment law, corporate and commercial law, dispute resolution, and other relevant legal areas, and escalate material or complex legal matters to the Legal Department at Headquarters for guidance, review, and approval as required.
• Draft and review a broad range of contracts and legal documents in coordination with the Legal Department at Headquarters, ensuring compliance with approved legal standards, internal approval processes, and risk management requirements. This includes routine operational documents as well as complex commercial agreements and strategic transactions.
• Support the implementation of approved contract templates, policies, and procedures while administering the full contract lifecycle, including initiation, negotiation, execution, renewal, amendment, and termination.
• Perform company secretarial functions as required, including preparing agendas, drafting and maintaining minutes of meetings, ensuring proper record‑keeping of corporate decisions, and supporting compliance with statutory and governance obligations.
• Support the Legal Department at Headquarters by conducting legal research and analysis, preparing legal documentation, and coordinating legal matters across jurisdictions.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and ensure that the Legal Department at Headquarters is promptly informed of new laws, regulations, and compliance requirements relevant to the business.
• Provide legal and administrative support to operational teams, including assisting with clerical tasks, maintaining legal records, managing document repositories and supporting legal process administration.
• Identify, assess, and report on legal risks associated with business activities, transactions, and strategic initiatives.
• Assist the Legal Department at Headquarters with the incorporation, restructuring, and maintenance of local, regional, and international entities, including the drafting and preparation of legal documentation and coordination with external counsel to ensure compliance with local legal requirements.
• Support project managers and Regional Operations Director on legal matters arising from contract implementation and execution, and monitor compliance with contractual obligations and key milestones while ensuring alignment with the guidance, requirements, and directions of the Legal Department at Headquarters.
• Liaise with regulators, governmental authorities, external counsel, and other relevant stakeholders on legal and compliance matters.
• Provide legal advice and support to operations on material legal matters and key initiatives, including regulatory compliance, contracts, governance, disputes, and legal risk assessment, as required.
• Performing other legal-related tasks as they arise and as delegated by the Legal department at the Headquarters.

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
• A Master’s degree in law is a plus.
• At least 6-7 years as an in-house legal consultant within a corporate setting.
• Experience working across multiple jurisdictions is an advantage.
• Professional behavior and ethical conduct
• Demonstrating sound professional judgment and diligence in the preparation and delivery of legal work, including the responsible use of technology and support tools.
• Delivering results
• Continuous improvement
• Accountability and taking ownership
• Strong understanding of the UAE/GCC legal and regulatory landscape, including federal and Emirate-level laws, mainland and free zone regimes, licensing and government approval requirements, corporate and commercial laws, governance, employment, immigration, data protection, education-sector regulations, and the interaction between civil law, common law free zone systems.