Demand for English Legal Services in the Gulf

Author Masterdeis Licence CC BY-SA 3.0  Source Wikimedia Commons

 

Jane Lambert

For many years, the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council and neighbouring states have been a large and growing market for British goods and services.  To support suppliers of those goods and services, many British law firms and some chambers have established a presence in the region.  The Dubai International Financial Centre, Abu Dhabi Global Market and the Qatar Financial Centre have set up English-speaking common law courts to resolve disputes within their jurisdictions.

I have been following those developments in this publication for over 15 years.  Stephen Somerville, one of our most senior staffers, has made several visits to Dubai to promote the services of our members.

It goes without saying that the current hostilities in the region are bad for business, and the longer they continue, the more difficult it will be.  Much will depend on the outcome.  For instance, whether the US and Israeli forces break Iranian resistance or harden it and the type of regime that eventually emerges in Tehran.   In that regard, it must be remembered that countries have interests and that a more liberal successor to the present theocracy may not have altogether different ambitions.   Russia can no longer be described as a socialist state, but its conduct in international affairs is not very different from that of the former Soviet Union.  

For the moment, the courts continue to sit.  Both the DIFC and the ADGM courts have delivered judgments since 28 Feb 2026.  I am reminded of an observation by Sir Robin Jacob when he spoke in Leeds last month (see Robin Jacob Visits Leeds 1 March 2026 NIPC Yorkshire).  He said that while Adolf was pounding the United Kingdom, the House of Lords was deciding King Features Syndicate Inc. v Kleeman (O. & M.) Ltd, [1941] A.C. 417 | [1941] 2 All E.R. 403 | [1941] 5 WLUK 46.  That case moulded product design law in the UK and much of the Commonwealth until 1989.   In some areas of the law, such as frustration of contracts and force majeure, there may even be an uptick in work in the short term, as there was in London immediately after Suez.  

I shall continue to monitor developments and report the more significant ones here.  Anyone wishing to discuss this article may call me on +44 (0)20 7404 5252 during office hours or send a message through my contact form at any time.