Al Tamimi & Company’ shipping practice is recognised for its regional reach and ability to manage complex, cross-border matters across the GCC. The team acts for a wide spectrum of clients, from international corporates and financial institutions, to government bodies and local operators, in both contentious and transactional work, including financings, commercial agreements, vessel arrests, and related claims. Practice head Omar Omar brings extensive industry experience across the full breadth of shipping and transport matters. Yasser Madkour focuses on disputes, regularly acting in arbitrations conducted in both English and Arabic. Ahmed Hashem is noted for his expertise in maritime law, covering the full spectrum of disputes, including groundings, arrests, regulatory, and customs matters.

HFW remains a prominent force in the Middle East shipping market, advising across the full spectrum of maritime work. The firm’s client base includes shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs, underwriters, government entities, and a wide range of operators in the transport and logistics spaces. Yaman Al Hawamdeh leads the team, often acting in high-value and complex disputes across the GCC. Richard Strub, a long-standing member of the firm’s English law shipping practice, continues to represent clients in high-court proceedings and arbitrations. On the non-contentious side, Tien Tai routinely advises on major transactional mandates in the region, particularly high-profile finance and commercial shipping matters. Robert Lawrence handles offshore and marine insurance issues, as well as complex maritime casualties, while Ian Chung advises on M&A and financing within the maritime and private equity sectors.

Praised for its ability to combine ‘sharp legal expertise with strong business practices’, Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP maintains a strong presence in the maritime, trade, and offshore sectors, acting in high-value and complex matters across both contentious and non-contentious mandates. The team is well-known for handling the full spectrum of dry and wet shipping disputes, including major litigation and international arbitration, as well as providing corporate and transactional advice to maritime clients throughout the region. Rania Tadros, who leads the firm’s global maritime and offshore offering, continues to advise on some of the most sophisticated disputes in the market. Mohamed El Hawawy, head of shipping and insurance for the Middle East, brings deep expertise across marine insurance and transportation disputes. The wider group includes Khurram Ali, who is recognised for his strong practice in Saudi Arabia, and Mark Lakin, who is noted for his work on shipping and international trade disputes. Saif Almobideen remains heavily involved in high-profile civil law litigation, crisis management instructions, and marine insurance matters, while Menelaus Kouzoupis advises on leading superyacht mandates and sanctions-related issues. Chinar Zaidi and Paul Katsouris feature prominently across the firm’s maritime caseload, and Rustum Shah is another highly active member of the department.

Fichte & Co. is widely recognised as a leading maritime practice in the GCC, offering comprehensive contentious and transactional expertise across the full spectrum of shipping and maritime law. The firm acts for shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs, H&M underwriters, shipyards, port authorities, banks, and international traders, regularly handling multi-jurisdictional disputes involving vessel damage, environmental claims, recourse actions, contract disputes, insolvency issues, and marine insurance matters. Managing partner Jasmin Fichte is a central figure in the market, frequently working with government bodies on maritime infrastructure and regulatory initiatives. Ravi Jawani, Alessandro Tricoli, and Manik Verma are also key names, advising on contentious and transactional matters.

Hadef & Partners is recognised for its strong UAE-based shipping practice, advising on the full spectrum of maritime, transport, and trade matters. The team is regularly instructed on charterparty and bills of lading disputes, shipbuilding contracts, marine insurance, customs issues, collisions, and international sales and commodity disputes. It also handles ship finance, maritime asset sales and purchases, and offshore engineering and construction matters across the GCC. Adrian Chadwick, head of the maritime, transport, and trade group, remains a key contact for P&I Clubs, particularly on cargo, crew, and customs issues, as well as casualty claims before the UAE courts. Abdulrahman Juma, head of the dispute resolution offering, and Richard Briggs are also central to the firm’s disputes and maritime offering.

Watson Farley & Williams handles a wide range of complex, cross-border shipping disputes, from vessel construction and charterparty issues, to international trade and finance-related matters. The Dubai team represents an extensive client base of shipowners, charterers, P&I clubs, financiers, and offshore operators and is regularly instructed on high-value financings, sale and purchase work, and market-leading M&A transactions in the maritime sector. Charlotte Bijlani, head of the Dubai maritime dispute resolution practice, is well regarded for her work on major multi-jurisdictional disputes and international arbitrations. Natalie Jensen is another key contact, with expertise in advising bunk traders, insurers, and ship managers on both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Leonard Soudagar and David Leckie jointly lead the practice at Clyde & Co LLP, which boasts expertise in shipping disputes, including international arbitration proceedings, international trade matters, and marine insurance claims. Soudagar's client portfolio includes shipyards, ports, and logistics companies, as well as insurers, and Leckie has notable experience representing clients in arbitration, litigation, and mediation proceedings.

Dentons’ maritime team is distinguished by its clear focus on ship finance, advising on both conventional and Islamic structures across high-value, complex transactions. The firm acts for an impressive roster of shipping banks and regional owners, frequently handling first-of-their-kind financings and amendments to existing facilities. Paul Jarvis provides long-standing market insight, while Nathaniel Armstrong leads on the full spectrum of ship finance matters, including structured, cross-border and Shari’ah-compliant deals.

Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants is a long-established presence in the UAE shipping market, recognised for its strong focus on maritime disputes, arbitration, and debt recovery. The team advises on the full spectrum of contentious maritime matters, including cargo and charterparty disputes, ship arrests, salvages, wreck removal, and marine insurance claims, acting for shipowners, P&I Clubs, insurers, and major logistics operators. Ahmed Galadari co-leads the practice alongside Shani Salim, who both bring significant expertise across shipping and international trade matters.