Hadef & Partners has an established pedigree in the UAE, this year marking 45 years since its launch.
Based across offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the firm has grown to over 100 lawyers, offering services across all major practice areas.
In an interview, managing partner Sadiq Jafar reveals the firm’s biggest milestones, evolving priorities, and what is next in the nation’s legal landscape.
Hadef & Partners marks 45 years this year. What are some of the pivotal moments or key milestones in the firm’s history that have shaped its identity and contributed to its success?
The 45-year journey of Hadef & Partners reflects the remarkable evolution of the UAE’s legal landscape since our founding in 1980. A number of pivotal moments helped shape our identity as one of the UAE’s leading law firms, such as:
The establishment of the firm’s first office, in Abu Dhabi, only nine years after the formation of the UAE in 1971, positioned us to grow in tandem with the nation.
Dr Hadef Al Dhaheri and Dr Faraj Ahnish (our founding partners) have always emphasised the importance of embracing international standards of legal practice, while ensuring that we are deeply connected within the local community.
Our second office was established in Dubai in 1998, allowing us to serve clients across the Emirates and positioning us at the centre of the UAE’s commercial growth.
We developed full-service capability across all major practice areas, enabling us to provide comprehensive legal support to government-related entities and private sector clients in an increasingly complex business and regulatory environment.
Our commitment to diversity mirrors the UAE’s rich multicultural ecosystem, creating strength through a range of perspectives that enhance client service and community impact.
Our focus on developing Emirati legal talent is fundamental. We proudly grow and enhance our extremely strong team of UAE national lawyers, creating meaningful pathways for Emirati legal professionals.
We were extremely honoured when Dr Al Dhaheri was asked to serve as Minister of Justice for seven years, before returning on a full-time basis to the firm in 2015.
We must also take this opportunity to list a number of firsts and major achievements that Hadef & Partners is associated with, such as advising on the first ever initial public offering (IPO) for Abu Dhabi Ship Building in the UAE in 1995, drafting the UAE Space Law in 2017, the first law of its kind in the Middle East, as well as drafting the first corporate tax system in 2022.
What sets Hadef & Partners apart from other local firms in the UAE?
Our distinctive strength lies in seamlessly blending authentic Emirati heritage with international legal expertise. As one of the UAE’s longest-established law firms, we offer unparalleled local knowledge combined with global standards of practice. The unique combination of deep local roots, international calibre expertise, and comprehensive service offerings allows us to navigate the UAE’s legal landscape in an optimal and effective manner for our governmental and private sector clients.
We are extremely proud of our very high overall retention rates. At the senior end, more than 35% of our team of 180 people have served more than ten years with the firm. This commitment and continuity helps ensure consistent, relationship-based client service and preserves deep institutional knowledge for the benefit of our clients.
Hadef & Partners has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Are there any plans for regional or even global expansion?
Our strategic focus remains on delivering exceptional legal services within the UAE market where we have built our stellar reputation during the past 45 years. While we continuously evaluate opportunities, our current priority is to continue to enhance and strengthen our position as the premier UAE law firm through our long-established offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Rather than physical expansion, we develop robust relationships with leading independent firms across the region and globally. This network allows us to seamlessly support clients’ cross-border needs while maintaining our specialised focus on UAE law. We believe this approach delivers greater value than establishing offices in markets where we would not have the depth of expertise and connections that have long distinguished our UAE practice.
The UAE continues to experience remarkable growth, driving the evolution of increasingly sophisticated laws and regulations across all sectors. To be successful and stay at the summit of this rapidly advancing legal landscape requires unwavering focus and detailed implementation.
Which sectors are currently the most active for the firm and how are you adapting to this demand?
We are proud of our government and regulatory practice that currently serves as trusted advisors to numerous federal, governmental, and quasi-governmental entities on complex legislative and regulatory frameworks across diverse sectors. Our unparalleled expertise has positioned us at the forefront of legal innovation in the region, having successfully drafted and implemented over 250 laws throughout the UAE. This remarkable achievement underscores our deep understanding of the local legal environment, our technical proficiency, and our ability to align regulatory solutions with national strategic objectives. As regulatory demands continue to evolve across the Emirates, our practice remains the preferred partner for government entities seeking sophisticated legal counsel on matters of national importance.
We continue to experience growth and strong demand across all of our practice areas, from corporate and M&A, through to litigation across the range of UAE courts and tribunals.
As might be expected, there has been a high emphasis on sectors such as technology, media and telecommunications (TMT), transportation, education, healthcare, family business structuring, real estate, corporate tax, and financial services. The UAE’s digital transformation initiatives and focus on innovation have significantly increased the need for our TMT expertise, while generational transition drives substantial work with family businesses seeking advice on governance structures and succession planning. Corporate tax is a relatively new and vital area, with strong and increasing market demand.
The real estate sector continues to show remarkable resilience and growth, generating consistent demand for our comprehensive property-related services. To meet these needs, we have strategically expanded our specialist teams in these high-growth areas while providing sector focused solutions. Our integrated approach combines technical legal expertise with deep industry knowledge, ensuring we provide commercially relevant advice to address the unique challenges and opportunities these sectors present in the UAE’s evolving economic landscape.
What are your priorities for Hadef & Partners in the next five years, as the firm approaches its 50th anniversary?
We are focused on strategic expansion of our service capabilities to address emerging legal challenges in the UAE’s rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. We continue to focus on developing specialised tax, AI regulatory and data protection practices—areas that will be critical as the UAE continues its economic transformation while aligning with global regulatory standards.
We will continue to invest in our people through expanded professional development programmes and leadership initiatives. This includes nurturing our Emirati talent, which is fundamental to our identity and success.
We are accelerating our digital transformation programme to improve client service delivery while maintaining the personal approach that distinguishes our firm. By embracing legal technology solutions alongside our deep market knowledge, we aim to set new standards for legal service excellence in the UAE market while preserving the relationship-based culture that has defined our firm for 45 years.
How is Hadef & Partners preparing the next generation of lawyers to lead the firm into the future, and what qualities are you looking for in future leaders?
We take a multi-faceted approach to developing future leaders, combining structured mentorship programmes with our focus on high-end client service and sophisticated relationship management. Our associates work directly with senior partners on complex matters, gaining valuable practical experience. They are also provided the opportunity to be client-facing on appropriate matters to develop their client relationship skills.
We nurture Emirati legal talent through specialist programmes designed to accelerate professional growth and to preserve our unique cultural heritage.
The qualities we value in future leaders extend beyond technical legal excellence. We seek lawyers who demonstrate entrepreneurial thinking, emotional intelligence, and cultural awareness. As technology reshapes legal practice, we value resilience, adaptability, and innovative problem-solving abilities. We seek individuals who embody our core values—focused vision, precise standards, detailed understanding, and commitment to the UAE’s continued development.
This article was first published in the April 2025 print issue of Law Middle East.
