Is the Road to the Middle East Paved with Gold?

At Douglas Scott Legal Recruitment, we don’t just specialise in legal recruitment in the UK. We also specialise in recruitment for firms in other parts of the world – and one area we have seen considerable growth in recent years is the Middle East.

Once, it was miners looking for oil – now, it seems like lawyers are looking for wealth in this newly emerging major player on the international stage. Much like footballers like Jordan Henderson, Neymar, and Christiano Ronaldo moving to Saudi Arabia, lawyers are making the move for more money to the Middle East. But we were wondering – what potential advantages and opportunities exist for those looking to move? With help from our consultant in this area, Afraz Sajadi, we wanted to examine this subject and answer the question – is this market an untapped goldmine for lawyers?

One important aspect to consider is that it might be worth learning some basic Arabic, even just for your personal life, with Arabic being the main language of this region. Otherwise, few restrictions are placed on British lawyers joining established firms, with several actively encouraging people to move. The Middle East market currently has the highest number of English and Welsh practicing solicitors outside of the UK and Hong Kong, with Dubai being the main hub for legal services throughout the Middle East. The key areas of practice in the Middle East market include:

• Projects, Real Estate and Construction
• Commercial and Corporate
• Dispute Resolution
• Intellectual Property

There are other areas of law, but these are the four main verticals that law firms are looking to recruit in.

There are also many other great reasons why you might want to make the move to this region. One of the biggest draws for lawyers is an income-free tax salary, which allows people the chance to keep more of the money they earn. There are also opportunities for rapid career growth due to the sector’s booming economy, a huge cultural diversity with people from over 200 nationalities living in Dubai alone, state-of-the-art technological infrastructure, and great networking opportunities. (Dubai is hosting several upcoming conferences, such as the International Conference on Law and Society.) There are also other, more personal factors, with many employers recognising the importance of that vital work/life balance. Many firms offer flexible working hours and competitive holiday allowances, which give the flexibility that people are looking for nowadays. So, as well as a burgeoning legal market, there are many other incentives to move.

Overall, the Middle East is a market worth considering, if you are looking at an international role with interest. There are lots of opportunities for both fully qualified and even newly qualified lawyers, and it might be worthy of consideration for those who are looking for a different type of role. With changes in regulatory requirements coming into effect as well, now is a great time to consider moving out to the Middle East to seek a great career, or to further it. Why not contact Afraz, our consultant in this market, today to discuss the roles we already have? You can contact him at afraz@douglas-scott.co.uk or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/af...