Afridi & Angell

Overview

Afridi & Angell is a leading full-service business law firm in the United Arab Emirates with a long-established regional presence and an international reach through networks and a Toronto private client office. Founded in 1975, the firm is one of the earliest entrants to the UAE market and is repeatedly ranked by major legal directories for its banking & finance, dispute resolution, real estate and capital markets practices. It distinguishes itself by combining local-law expertise and relationships with international-quality service, membership of global networks and deep experience advising both government authorities and private-sector clients across the GCC and beyond.

Headquarters: Dubai, Jumeirah Emirates Towers
Founded: 1975
Offices: 5

Values & Culture

Practice Areas

Agriculture & Rural

Geographic Focus: Primary strength and market focus is the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah), with specialist capabilities in DIFC matters and an international footprint assisted by membership of Lex Mundi and World Services Group. The firm serves clients across the GCC, advises on cross-border financings and listings and maintains a Toronto office to serve private clients in Canada and globally.

Training Contract

Academic Requirements: Candidates should have excellent academics and top-level experience; the firm welcomes lawyers from a diverse range of international jurisdictions and backgrounds.

Notable Matters

Major Emirati real estate group's IPO of depositary receipts on the London Stock Exchange – USD 348 million

Acted as UAE counsel to a major Emirati real estate development group on its IPO of depositary receipts on the London Stock Exchange, prepared the due diligence report and advised on IPO structuring (deal referenced as raising USD 348 million).

Capital Markets

Syndicate EUR 595 million facility – UAE counsel to lenders

Acted as UAE counsel to a syndicate of banks on a EUR 595 million facility involving multiple jurisdictions, providing cross-border banking and finance advice and coordinating local security and regulatory considerations.

Banking & Finance

Commercial national carrier acquisition of aircraft from Boeing – USD 1.5 billion

Represented a commercial national carrier in respect of the purchase of USD 1.5 billion worth of aircraft from Boeing; transactional work on acquisition documentation and related aviation finance matters.

Aviation

Sharjah Islamic Bank Convertible Sukuk-Al Wakala issuance – AED 266 million

Advised Sharjah Islamic Bank in connection with the issuance of AED 266 million Convertible Sukuk-Al Wakala certificates and on the subsequent conversion into ordinary share capital.

Banking & Finance

Advising Siemens A.G. and Alstom S.A. on UAE merger control aspects

Handled UAE competition matters for the Siemens/Alstom merger, negotiating with the UAE Ministry of Economy and submitting the merger control clearance request.

Competition & Antitrust

Advising MORO (DEWA subsidiary) on commercial IP/IT contracts and negotiations

Advised MORO on negotiation and drafting of commercial contracts and arrangements related to IP/IT transactions with global IT services providers and system integrators.

Technology & Digital

Exclusive eight-year TV and media broadcast agreement for cricket — US$150 million

Advised on an exclusive eight‑year TV and media broadcast agreement in respect of international and domestic cricket (US$150 million), representing media and entertainment transactional expertise.

Media & Entertainment

What Afridi & Angell Looks For

Key Competencies

Excellent academics
Commercial awareness
Practical, problem-solving approach
Client-service orientation
Teamwork and collaboration
International experience / multi-jurisdictional knowledge
Attention to detail
Willingness to learn

Evidence Signals

Strong academic record and professional qualifications
Relevant commercial or financial services experience
Experience with cross-border transactions or regulatory work
Language skills and multi-jurisdictional exposure
Pro bono or community work demonstrating commitment to access to justice

Benefits & Wellbeing

Awards & Recognition

Law Middle East Awards 2025 – Highly Commended - Regional Law Firm of the Year, 2025
Thomson Reuters Asian Legal Business (ALB) Middle East Law Awards 2025 – Middle East Law Firm of the Year, 2025
Thomson Reuters Asian Legal Business (ALB) Middle East Law Awards 2025 – Litigation Law Firm of the Year, 2025
Legal Era Middle East Law Awards 2024-2025 – Law Firm of the Year - UAE, 2025
Legal Era Middle East Law Awards 2024-2025 – Arbitration Law Firm of the Year, 2025
Legal Era Middle East Law Awards 2024-2025 – Banking, Finance and Restructuring Firm of the Year, 2025
Thomson Reuters Asian Legal Business (ALB) Middle East Law Awards 2024 – UAE Law Firm of the Year, 2024
Thomson Reuters Asian Legal Business (ALB) Middle East Law Awards 2024 – Arbitration Law Firm of the Year, 2024
Thomson Reuters Asian Legal Business (ALB) Middle East Law Awards 2024 – Deal Firm of the Year, 2024
LexisNexis Middle East Legal Awards 2024 – Honourable mention for Law Firm of the Year, 2024
ASIAN-MENA COUNSEL's Deal of the Year 2014 – Award for work on the Damac Real Estate Development issuance on the London Stock Exchange

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Afridi & Angell states a commitment to giving back to the community and ensuring individuals' rights are protected irrespective of ability to pay; the firm contributes pro bono research and advice to international development and charitable organisations.

Pro bono casework including support to an established school in Dubai (transfer of ownership and management)
Representation in medical negligence matter (parents of a prematurely born baby)
Partnership / contribution to Advocates for International Development (A4ID)
Pro bono advisory work for Oxfam Great Britain

Pro Bono

The firm provides pro bono and CSR support including restructuring assistance to a Dubai school (transfer of ownership and management to sustain operations), representation in medical negligence proceedings before the Dubai Health Care Authority, research assistance to A4ID for the World Bank 'Doing Business' report and advice to Oxfam GB on charity fundraising laws in Dubai.

Innovation

The firm invests in robust IT security infrastructure (layered security, intrusion prevention, advanced malware protection and N+1 redundancy) and engages with fintech and reglab initiatives, providing secondees and advisory support to innovative fintech clients. Lawyers at the firm routinely speak and provide training on cyber-security, blockchain, smart contracts, cryptocurrency and data protection matters, integrating sector-focused technical knowledge into client work.

Participation in ADGM 'reglab' client engagements with ongoing secondment arrangements
Firm IT/network security measures guided by ISO27001, NIST and NESA standards and enterprise-class firewall and malware protection

Quick Application Angles

Highlight experience or interest in UAE and GCC regulatory frameworks (DIFC/ADGM/Dubai) and reference the firm’s long-standing market presence since 1975 and membership of Lex Mundi/World Services Group.
If applying for banking, finance or capital markets roles, reference practical experience on syndicated finance, Islamic finance instruments or IPO processes (the firm acted on a USD 348m LSE depositary receipts IPO and multiple large syndicated financings).
Demonstrate commerciality and a problem-solving mindset with concrete examples — the firm emphasises practical, business-oriented advice and a 'hands on' partner-led approach.
For TMT/fintech roles, mention any experience with cloud contracts, cyber-security, payments or ADGM/DIFC regulatory work; the firm has acted for clients on cloud migrations, major vendor relationships (Microsoft/Oracle) and reglab fintech secondments.
Mention language skills, international qualifications or prior GCC experience — the firm values multi-jurisdictional backgrounds and lawyers trained in international jurisdictions.