Middle East

Fenwick Elliott has extensive experience advising on major construction, infrastructure and energy projects in the Middle East. We have worked with our clients for many years on projects in the region, including in Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, UAE and Yemen.

Serving our Middle East clients locally - Dubai office

Reflecting the importance of the Middle East market for our firm, we opened our first office in the region in 2015, in Dubai, UAE.

The office continues to build on our many years’ experience advising clients on construction and energy projects in the region and is now our international hub.

Our expertise in the Middle East

What sets Fenwick Elliott apart from our competitors, is the unique combination of extensive knowledge of local laws and court practices in Arab countries, together with our highly regarded international construction law expertise.

As well as offering project support, contract and documentation, dispute avoidance and dispute resolution services. We have extensive experience in handling arbitration proceedings either seated in the region or applying the substantive law of any Arab country. We also support our clients on state court litigations including; on substitutive disputes, judicial supervision and support of arbitral proceedings, and ratification or enforcement of domestic and foreign arbitration awards.

Some examples of our work in the Middle East include:

Integrated security system for oil and gas installations, Middle East

Advising a leading international technology company acting as EPC contractor for designing, procuring and installing a fully integrated security system for national oil and gas production and processing facilities.

Crude oil gather centre, Kuwait

Advising a leading international oil and gas contractor on legal issues arising during the execution of a US$650 million contract for the construction of a crude oil gathering centre in Kuwait, including issues as to application of currency and commodity price and fluctuation clauses.

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

Acting for a Dubai-based contractor in an international arbitration under Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) rules, in a claim relating to part of a major development in Dubai under a bespoke contract.

Dubai World Centre

Advising a contractor on disputes arising out of a specialist works package on the DWC Project in Dubai, including advice on arbitration proceedings, and working in conjunction with local lawyers on local court proceedings.

Power station and desalination plant, Dubai

Acting for an EPC contractor in disputes arising from the construction of an independent power and water plant in Dubai, including ICC arbitration proceedings.

Power station and desalination plant, Saudi Arabia

Acting for an EPC contractor in a claim against a Saudi Arabian company on an IWPP project in South Arabia. We began arbitration proceedings in London under the UK Arbitration Act 1996. The claim was successfully settled at an early stage.

Power station project, Jordan

Acting for a major US consulting engineer in disputes arising from the design of a gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Jordan. Advising, in conjunction with local lawyers, on Jordan court proceedings and advising on arbitration proceedings issued by a state-owned power company.