Senior Legal Associate (Real Estate)

Role: Real Estate Senior Associate

Location: Dubai

Practice Group: Real Estate

Experience Level: 4–6 years (Post Qualification experience, with minimum 2 years in the UAE)

Employment Type: Full-time, Law Firm Role

Role Overview

As a Real Estate Senior Associate, you will advise clients on complex real estate matters across the UAE, including acquisitions, disposals, leasing, development, and property due diligence. You will work closely with partners on high-value transactions involving developers, investors, family offices, and corporate occupiers. This role requires strong technical capability, excellent drafting skills, and the ability to manage transactions independently within a fast-paced law-firm environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Draft, review, and negotiate real estate transaction documents, including but not limited to sale and purchase agreements, development agreements, lease agreements, MoUs, Legal Opinions and ancillary property documentation.
• Advise on UAE real estate laws, land department procedures, free zone property regulations (DIFC, ADGM, DMCC, DSO, etc.), and civil code principles.
• Lead and manage real estate acquisitions and disposals, including title review, structuring, and regulatory filings.
• Handle landlord–tenant matters, commercial leasing, and property management documentation.
• Support clients on real estate development projects, including master community issues, off-plan regulations, and development control.
• Conduct real estate due diligence, risk assessments, and prepare comprehensive reports for investors, developers, and corporate clients.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the firm on multi-disciplinary matters involving real estate assets.
• Maintain strong client relationships and deliver practical, commercially aligned real estate advice.

Candidate Profile:

• 3–6 years PQE, with minimum 2 years of UAE real estate experience in a reputable international or regional law firm in the UAE
• Strong expertise in real estate transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, leasing, development, and asset due diligence.
• Exposure to real estate finance is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of UAE property laws, land department procedures, and free zone regulations.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills with the ability to deliver commercially sound real estate solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead transactions and manage timelines.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a multi-office, cross-border environment.
• Good academic background and fluency in English.
• A proactive, solution-oriented mindset and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, high-performance law-firm setting.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: AED20,000.00 - AED23,000.00 per month

Application Question(s):

• How many years of post-qualification experience (PQE) do you have in real estate law?
• How many years of experience do you have in UAE?
• Have you advised clients on UAE real estate laws and Land Department procedures?
• Do you have experience working on matters involving free zones (DIFC, ADGM, DMCC, DSO, etc.)?
• Have you handled real estate due diligence and prepared formal due diligence reports?
• Have you worked directly with developers, investors, family offices, or corporate occupiers?
• Current Monthly AED?
• Expected Monthly AED?
• Notice period? (In days)
• Do you have experience working in a Real Estate firm/ Law firm in Dubai?