Advocates & legal consultants for over 30 years
Full-service legal counsel
We act for individuals, families, businesses and institutions on criminal, civil, commercial, financial and regulatory matters.
- 30+ Years of practice
- 36 Practice areas
- 8 Practice groups
- 5 Overseas jurisdictions
Who we are
A full-service law firm based in Dubai
Bader Hamad Al Zaabi Advocates & Legal Consultants is a full-service law firm based in Dubai, serving clients across the United Arab Emirates and, through correspondent firms abroad, in a number of overseas jurisdictions. The firm advises on the commercial and personal consequences of a legal problem as well as on the law that applies to it.
In more than thirty years of practice, the firm has acted for individuals facing criminal charges, for families in divorce and succession matters, for business owners at every stage from formation to sale, and for banks, insurers and corporate clients on regulatory and financial exposure. Matters often cross more than one category, and handling the criminal, civil, commercial and regulatory sides in one firm keeps the strategy consistent.
Working languages
- Arabic
- English
- French
- Hindi
A word from the Counsel
For more than thirty years we have worked to one commitment: to give our clients an honest assessment of their position from the very first meeting, and to take full responsibility for the file from instruction through to enforcement.
Legal problems rarely stay in one category. A criminal complaint often has a civil claim behind it, and a family dispute often touches property and succession. That is why we built a team that handles these sides together, and stays with you until you are paid.
Bader Hamad Al Zaabi Counsel & Principal
Practice areas
Criminal, civil, commercial, financial and regulatory work
Practice groups: 8 · Areas of law: 36
Criminal Defence & Financial Crime
Our criminal team acts at the police station, before the Public Prosecution and at trial and appeal, including in cross-border matters involving Interpol notices, extradition requests and money laundering allegations.
6 areasCivil Litigation & Dispute Resolution
We act in civil and commercial disputes before the onshore courts, the DIFC Courts and arbitral tribunals, assessing the merits, recovery prospects and likely cost before proceedings are issued.
5 areasCorporate, Commercial & Business
We advise businesses on incorporation, shareholder arrangements, day-to-day contracting, expansion, restructuring and exit.
6 areasBanking, Finance & Insurance
We act for banks, finance companies and insurers, and for their customers and policyholders.
4 areasVirtual Assets & Cryptocurrency
We act on licensing and structuring on one side, and on fraud, recovery and criminal defence on the other, treating these matters as urgent because digital assets move faster than conventional assets can be traced.
4 areasTax, Regulatory & Technology
We advise on VAT, corporate tax, international tax and data protection, covering registration and filings, health checks, audits and disputes with the authorities.
4 areasPrivate Client, Family & Property
Family, property and succession matters are handled discreetly and by a consistent team, with attention to the financial and family consequences of each step.
3 areasProjects, Transport & Energy
We act for clients in industries with their own regulators, standard contract forms and commercial practice.
4 areasWhere we appear
Before the UAE courts and international tribunals
Our advocates appear before the UAE courts at every level, and the firm is registered with the DIFC Courts.
- Dubai Courts
- Federal Courts
- Court of Cassation
- Public Prosecution
- Rental Dispute Centre
- DIFC Courts
- Dubai International Arbitration Centre
- International Chamber of Commerce
- London Court of International Arbitration
Why clients choose us
Matters affecting liberty, business, family and reputation
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Local depth, international reach
Emirati advocates in the UAE courts daily, alongside internationally qualified consultants and correspondent firms abroad.
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Connected problems handled together
A criminal complaint often has a civil claim behind it; a family dispute often raises property and succession questions.
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Onshore and DIFC, one team
Part I registration with the DIFC Courts alongside rights of audience in the onshore courts.
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Immediate response on urgent matters
Police station attendance, travel bans, ship arrests and attachment applications are same-day work.
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We stay on the file until you are paid
A dedicated follow-up and execution department pursues recovery after judgment, where many matters otherwise stall.
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Clarity on cost
Fees are agreed in writing at the outset, with the basis of charging, likely disbursements and stages set out first.
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Advice you can act on
In plain language, in Arabic, English, French or Hindi, with the practical options and their consequences.
How we work
From first consultation to enforcement and closure
Matters follow the same sequence whatever the practice area, so you know at each point what has happened, what comes next and what it will cost.
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Consultation
We meet you in person or remotely and listen to the full picture before offering a view.
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Case assessment
We review the documents and the law, and identify strengths, weaknesses and evidence gaps.
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Strategy and engagement
We agree the objective, route, timeline and fee basis in a written engagement letter before work begins.
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Preparation
We assemble the file: evidence, expert input, translations and submissions.
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Representation
We act for you before the police, prosecution, courts, tribunals and regulators, updating you at each hearing.
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Resolution
By judgment, award or settlement, we secure the outcome and explain what it means for you.
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Enforcement and closure
Our execution department pursues recovery and implementation until the file is closed.
Fee arrangements
We offer hourly, fixed-fee and staged arrangements depending on the matter, together with retainers for clients who need continuing support. Whichever basis applies, the fee structure, expected disbursements and scope are set out in writing before we begin, and material changes are agreed in advance.
Sectors
Sustained experience across sectors
- Banking & financial services
- Construction & infrastructure
- Real estate & hospitality
- Shipping & logistics
- Aviation
- Energy & natural resources
- Insurance
- Technology & telecoms
- Retail & consumer
- Healthcare
- Government & public sector
- Private individuals & families
Questions
Before you
Short answers to what clients usually ask before the first conversation.
Still have a question?
What should I include in my first message?
Share only the names of the parties at first, so we can check for conflicts of interest. Please don't send documents or confidential details until we confirm we can take your request. If you have an upcoming court date or response deadline, tell us the date.
How are fees agreed?
We offer hourly, fixed-fee and staged arrangements depending on the matter, together with retainers for clients who need continuing support. Whichever basis applies, the fee structure, expected disbursements and scope are set out in writing before we begin, and material changes are agreed in advance.
How does a matter run once we are instructed?
Matters follow the same sequence whatever the practice area, so you know at each point what has happened, what comes next and what it will cost.
Do you handle matters outside the UAE?
Matters arising outside the UAE are handled through correspondent firms, so you deal with a single team and we remain your point of contact throughout. We have correspondent firms in United Kingdom, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand.
Which languages do you advise in?
We advise in Arabic, English, French, Hindi.
Does contacting you mean you have taken my matter?
Sending a request does not mean we have accepted your matter or that a lawyer–client relationship exists; that begins only with a signed engagement letter.
Contact
Discuss your matter
In your first message, share only the names of the parties and a short description, so we can check for conflicts of interest before going into detail.