Akin has officially secured a licence from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice, marking the final step in the firm’s plan to open its Riyadh office this summer.
The office will focus on the firm’s core strengths in corporate finance, energy, and infrastructure, according to a statement.
Earlier this year, Law Middle East exclusively revealed the firm’s plan to expand into Saudi Arabia, with former White & Case partner Alexander Malahias at the helm.
Malahias, a corporate partner, is relocating from Abu Dhabi to lead the office where he will be joined by project finance partner Jennifer Riddle, who is also relocating from Abu Dhabi.
Together, Malahias and Riddle have worked with key regional entities including Red Sea Global, NEOM, and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) on large-scale projects across the region.
“Opening in Riyadh will mark an important step for Akin,” said the firm’s co-chair, Abid Qureshi. “Our goal is to continue to build a global platform that anticipates our clients’ needs and positions us where they need us most. Saudi Arabia is central to the transformation currently underway across the region, and our presence in Riyadh reinforces our commitment to supporting clients in the markets shaping the future.”
Malahias said: “The Riyadh office is a natural next step in the growth of our presence in the Middle East. We are bringing together an exceptional group of partners who know the complexities of this market. Our clients across the region—particularly those focused on large-scale development and energy transition—will benefit from the seamless support our team is uniquely equipped to provide.”
It is the firm’s third Middle East office after it opened in Dubai in 2014 and Abu Dhabi in 2008.
Akin’s upcoming launch in Riyadh comes after Saudi Arabia reformed its rules to allow international law firms to operate independently in the Kingdom. Most recently, Bird & Bird secured a licence to open an office in Riyadh.
