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Our Team

Dr. Habib Al Mulla - Founder and Executive Chairman

Position:

Founder and Executive Chairman

Contact:

habib.almulla@habibalmulla.com

Admitted:

1984, UAE

Education:

PhD University of Cambridge, London, 1993; LLM Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA, 1987; LLB in Sharia and Law, UAE, UAE University, 1984

Language(s):

Arabic, English

Expertise:

Arbitration
Construction
Corporate Structuring & Restructuring
Commercial
Litigation
Infrastructure Projects
Regulatory & Public law
Mergers & Acquisitions
Employment Law

Practice & Experience:

Dr Habib is one of the UAE’s most highly respected legal authorities. He has over 27 years’ experience in UAE law and has drafted many of the modern legislative structures in place in Dubai today. Dr Habib is a strong advocate for the improvement and modernisation of UAE Laws. He is a frequent commentator on the legislation and economy of the UAE and is often consulted to draft and advise on Federal and Emirate level laws.

Dr Habib focuses his practice on litigation and arbitration. He is vice chairman of the board of trustees for the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and is Chairman of the CIArb (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators) UAE Committee.
He created the concept of financial free zones in the UAE and was the architect of the legal framework establishing the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the first financial free zone in the UAE. Dr Habib also served as Chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

Dr Habib has held numerous prominent government positions over the years, including being a member of the UAE Federal National Council, the federal parliament of the UAE, member of the Legislative Committee, in charge of reviewing federal legislation, member of the Economic Committee, in charge of reviewing fiscal and economic policy of the federation, Director of the Institute of Advanced Legal and Judicial Studies, in charge of training judges and prosecutors in the Emirate of Dubai and Chairman of the UAE Jurists Association.

He has published many books and articles on the UAE law and economy, including a two part book on his life’s work titled Life’s Harvest, a definitive selection of his writings on the laws, politics and economy of the UAE over the last 26 years. He is also a regular commentator in the media and a prominent speaker at many events and conferences within the UAE and internationally.

Dr Habib holds an LLB in Shari’a and law from the UAE University, a Master of Law from Harvard Law School and a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. He is fluent in Arabic and English.

Professional Achievements:

Work highlights:

Dr Habib has been lead counsel on numerous UAE and international arbitrations across a variety of sectors including construction, finance, commerce and maritime, as both counselor or expert witness. He is experienced in many arbitration rules including the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the Abu Dhabi Conciliation and Commercial Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC), the International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Centre, the LCIA and the ICSID. Some examples of Dr Habib’s arbitration cases are listed below:

Sole Arbitrator in Qatar based ICC arbitration involving a major construction project in Qatar between two Middle Eastern companies

Co-Arbitrator in a Qatar based ICC arbitration involving a major construction project between an Indian and a UAE company

Party-appointed arbitrator in two London based ICC arbitrations involving disputes over contracts for the supply of iron ore between Indian and UAE based companies

Co-Counseling the Government of Dubai along with an international law firm in a Port Concession Agreement under ICSID proceedings

Co-Counseling the Government of Dubai along with an international law firm in a Port Concession Agreement under DIAC proceedings

Co-Arbitrator in a DCCI arbitration involving a dispute over a supply contract between an Indian company and a UAE company

Sole Arbitrator in an ad-hoc arbitration involving a major construction project

Sole Arbitrator in a DCCI arbitration involving a dispute over a construction contract between two UAE companies

Sole Arbitrator in a DCCI arbitration involving a dispute relating to an insurance claim between a UAE and an international company

Sole Arbitrator in a ADCCAC arbitration involving a distribution agreement

Sole Arbitrator in a DCCI arbitration involving a dispute over a sale and purchase agreement for property

Counsel to the Respondent in a DIAC arbitration concerning a dispute relating to a major Dubai based development project worth AED500 million

Counsel to the Respondent in an ADCCAC arbitration relating to a dispute over payment obligations arising  from a completed IPO valued at AED500 million

Counsel to the Claimant in a series of ad-hoc arbitration proceedings concerning an AED100 million dispute in relation to non-payment for subcontracted work on a major Dubai construction project

Counsel to the Claimant in a DIAC arbitration concerning an AED4 billion partnership dispute

Counsel to the Claimant in a DIAC arbitration relating to a re-investment dispute

Counsel to the Claimant in an ICC arbitration involving a Fortune 100 technology company concerning a commercial dispute worth AED50 million arising out of the execution of works for Dubai International Airport

Counsel to the Claimant in an ad-hoc arbitration involving a major construction project in Dubai

UAE Legal Expert in an ICC arbitration involving the satellite industry
 

UAE Legal Expert in an ICC arbitration in relation to damages for breach of contract

UAE Legal Expert in a DIFC arbitration in relation to bankruptcy and damages

UAE Legal Expert in a major Hong Kong court case

UAE Legal Expert in a case before the Queen’s Court in the United Kingdom involving banking and real estate transactions

UAE Legal Expert in an ICC arbitration in relation to a contract for the supply of technology

Counsel for a UAE public joint stock company in an ADCCAC arbitration against its IPO lead arranger

Counsel for a global energy drink manufacturer in a DIAC arbitration against is regional distributor

Publications/Papers:













































Professional Associations
and Memberships


"Life’s Harvest”  26 years of articles on the economy, politics and laws of the UAE, Dr Habib Al Mulla, 2011

"Comparison of Gulf International Arbitration Rules”, (with Gordon Blanke and Karim Nassif), Juris Publishing, 2010

"Realty needs a dose of stability,” Gulf News, 26th May 2009
 
"The Executive Regulation of the Real Estate Register law..rubbing salt into a wound,” Al Khaleej, 12th May 2009

"Does Dubai need more than one Arbitration Centre?” Gulf News, 9th March 2009

"Multiplicity of Arbitration Centres...a blessing or indignation?” Al Khaleej, 2nd March 2009

"Disparate circulars add to confusion,” Gulf News, 24th November 2008

"The DIFC Arbitration: Awards facing challenges,” Gulf News, 20th November 2008

"Has Dubai Failed?” Gulf News, 8th November 2008

"37th Anniversary - Constitutional Amendments - Federation Progress,” Al Bayan, 20th December 2008

"Dubai and the losing bet on failure,” Al Khaleej, 8th November 2008
 
"Global financial crisis, the control and legislation,” Al Khaleej, 20th October 2008

"Defective composition causes the Real Estate organization to lose shining,” Al Khaleej, 27th September 2008
 
"Mess of the Real Estate organization and the dream of specialized judiciary,” 8th June 2008

"Interim Sale Contract,” Al Khaleej, 20th April 2008

"Development of the country and the citizen’s concerns,”(part 2) Al Khaleej, 11th December 2007"Inflation between the dirham and the green currency,” Al Khaleej, 4th October 2007"Views on the amendments of the Commercial Agency Law,” Al Khaleej, 25th June 2006
 
"Foreign labor between risks of setup and requirements of development,” Al Khaleej, 15th June 2006

"Stock market - painful pleading and distressful treatment,” Al Khaleej, 15th May 2006

"High cost devours everything,” Al Khaleej, 24th April 2006
 
"Launch of joint stock companies: Another perspective,” Al Khaleej, 18th February 2005

"Rise of fuel prices and inflation,” Al Khaleej, 4th September 2005

"Importance of Capital in Foundation of Companies,” Al Khaleej, 22nd June 2005

"Unemployment crisis and labor problem in the Gulf countries,” Al Khaleej, 30th May 2005

"Investment climate in Arab countries,” Al Khaleej, 17th May 2005

"Setting up the Insurance Control Authority...towards Institutional Control Authorities,” Al Khaleej, 26th April 2005

"Dubai Financial Services Authority and the International Criteria for Assuring Independent Control Systems,” Al Khaleej, 29th March 2005

"Free Trade Agreement with USA: point of view,” Al Khaleej, 7th March 2005

"Foreigners’ Ownership of Real Estate Properties in the United Arab Emirates - any solution?” Al Khaleej, 1st March 2010

"Towards privatization of Arab Financial Markets,” Al Khaleej, 22 February 2005

"Financing a project before it gets ready,” Gulf News, 27th October 2003

"Legal Issues when dealing with property,” Gulf News, 20th October 2003

"Legal Aspects of Real Estate Ownership,” Gulf News, 12th September 2003



Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)

Member of the ICC Institute

Member of the UAE ICC National Committee

Member of Panel of Experts of the Broadcasting and Publications Standards Tribunal of the Technology, Electronic Commerce and Media Free Zone Authority (TECOM) in Dubai

Fellow Member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Director of the Supervisory Board of Rasmala (Regional Investment Banking Group

Chairman of the Dubai Financial Service Authority 2003-2006

Vice President of the Board of Governors of American University in Dubai

Member of Board of Trustees of Dubai School of Government

Member of the Federal National Council 2000-2002