Hello readers,
Reeling off the back of Eid celebrations, there is still much to celebrate. Can you believe it has been one year since we launched, first online, and now in print? What an eventful year it has been!
In that time, we have seen one lawyer pop up on nearly every major IPO in the UAE: Ahmed Ibrahim. From Talabat, Lulu Retail, and Spinneys in the last year alone, to government-backed listings including DEWA, Empower, and ADNOC, we speak with him about his record-breaking IPO run, averaging one IPO every two months for the past three years.
Beyond this, we bring you Saudi Arabia’s Rising Stars 2025. This inaugural list features 12 up-and-coming associates at the nation’s top law firms. Saudi Arabia is a burgeoning market, and we reveal the lawyers working on the biggest deals, cases, and projects in the Kingdom.
Returning to the UAE, we turn our attention to one of the nation’s oldest law firms, Hadef & Partners, which this year marks 45 years since its launch. The firm’s managing partner, Sadiq Jafar, discusses its key milestones and evolving priorities. As we enter a new quarter, we also gain insights from another local firm’s managing partner, BSA Law’s Michael Kortbawi, who comments on deal flow in the UAE and his reflections for the year ahead.
All in all, this issue offers just a glimpse into the exciting developments unfolding in the region’s key economic centres.
Until next month,
Aishah Hussain
Editor, Law Middle East
Read the digital edition
Editorial
Aishah Hussain
Editor
Direct: +971 4 444 3132
aishah.hussain@itp.com
Commercial
Natasha Pendleton
Group Publishing Director
Direct: +971 4 444 3248
natasha.pendleton@itp.com