Legal Advisor and Engineering Expert

Legal Advisor and Engineering Expert

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates (On-site)
Job Type: Full-Time
Experience Level: Senior

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled Legal Advisor and Engineering Expert to join our team in Dubai. The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between legal expertise and engineering knowledge, providing specialized legal consulting for engineering and construction projects across the UAE. This role requires a deep understanding of UAE laws and regulations as they apply to engineering designs, contracts, claims, and project documentation.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in ensuring that all engineering projects are legally compliant, risks are proactively managed, and disputes are effectively resolved.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide specialized legal consulting and advisory support for engineering and construction projects, including interpretation and application of relevant UAE laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Review engineering designs, technical drawings, and project documentation to ensure full legal and regulatory compliance with UAE authorities, including but not limited to Dubai Municipality, RTA, DEWA, Trakhees, and relevant free-zone authorities.
• Draft, review, and negotiate engineering and construction contracts, including FIDIC-based contracts, subcontracts, joint venture agreements, and consultants' appointments.
• Manage and resolve project-related disputes, claims, variation orders, and extension-of-time (EOT) requests, including coordination with external legal counsel where formal legal representation is required.
• Conduct legal risk assessments on engineering projects and provide mitigation strategies to project teams and senior management.
• Advise on compliance with UAE Civil Code provisions relating to construction and engineering works, as well as relevant municipal and regulatory frameworks.
• Represent the company in meetings with clients, contractors, consultants, government bodies, and regulatory authorities.
• Prepare and present legal and compliance reports, briefs, and recommendations to internal stakeholders and project teams.
• Support arbitration, mediation, and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings related to engineering and construction matters.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Law (LLB) or equivalent from a recognized university. A background or additional qualification in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 5–8 years of experience providing specialized legal consulting for engineering or construction projects.
• Proven experience reviewing engineering designs, contracts, and project documentation to ensure legal and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated experience in managing disputes, claims, and arbitration proceedings within the engineering or construction sector.
• Strong knowledge of UAE legal frameworks, including the UAE Civil Code, construction regulations, and relevant authority requirements.
• Arabic speaker (required) — fluency in both Arabic and English, written and spoken.
• Must be based in or able to commute to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree (LLM) in Construction Law, Commercial Law, or a related field.
• Professional engineering registration or membership (e.g., UAE Society of Engineers, international equivalent).
• Familiarity with FIDIC contract suites and standard forms used in the region.
• Experience with Dubai-based mega projects or large-scale infrastructure developments.
• Knowledge of free-zone regulations and public-private partnership (PPP) frameworks in the UAE.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a contract-oriented mindset.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills in both Arabic and English.
• Ability to interpret technical engineering documents and translate legal implications.
• Sound judgment in risk assessment and dispute management.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary project teams.

How to Apply

Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications are invited to submit their updated CV and a cover letter highlighting relevant experience via Indeed or hr@khales.ae.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Experience:

• Legal Advisor : 5 years (Preferred)

Language:

• Arabic (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Society Of Engineers (Preferred)

Work Location: In person