Trusted Construction Lawyers Dubai
For Contract And Dispute Cases.
Construction disputes in Dubai can cost you millions. A missed notice deadline, an unpaid certificate, or a badly written contract can all damage your position before you even know there is a problem. Our construction lawyers Dubai handle FIDIC contracts, payment disputes, delay claims, defects cases, and construction arbitration. Arabic, English, Russian, Urdu, Turkish and Hindi speaking team.
3 Offices | Dubai Abu Dhabi and RAK
Arabic - English - Russian - Urdu - Turkish - Hindi
20+ Years Handling Construction Cases in Dubai and UAE
- Practice Areas
Construction Cases Our Dubai Advocates Handle
We handle all types of construction disputes and contract matters across Dubai courts, DIAC arbitration, and FIDIC dispute processes. Every case is assigned to a named construction lawyer from day one.
Payment Disputes & Unpaid Certificates
Handling all aspects of divorce, including uncontested, contested, Talaq, Khul, and civil divorce for expats. We manage court filings, negotiations, and final decrees.
UAE Specific
A contractor’s entitlement to payment and any right to suspend work depend on the applicable contract terms and UAE law. Under FIDIC-based contracts, suspension rights are subject to the specific contractual requirements, including any applicable notice and waiting periods.
Delay Claims & Extension of Time
Preparing and defending delay claims for contractors and developers, including extension of time requests, prolongation costs, and liquidated damages disputes.
UAE Specific
Notice requirements and time limits for delay and extension-of-time claims depend on the applicable FIDIC edition, the Particular Conditions and any contractual amendments. Where a contractual time bar applies, failure to comply may materially affect the claim.
FIDIC Contract Disputes
Advising contractors, developers, and consultants on all types of FIDIC contract disputes, from variation disagreements and scope changes to termination and performance bond calls.
UAE Specific
Most major UAE construction projects use FIDIC Red, Yellow, or Silver Book contracts.UAE courts and arbitral tribunals consider the agreed contractual terms, including applicable FIDIC provisions and Particular Conditions, together with mandatory provisions of UAE law.
Construction Defects & Decennial Liability
Handling disputes over construction defects, post-completion quality failures, and 10-year decennial liability claims under UAE law for both developers and contractors.
UAE Specific
Under the UAE Civil Transactions Law currently in force, contractors and supervising engineers may be subject to ten-year decennial liability for total or partial collapse and qualifying defects that threaten the stability or safety of buildings or fixed installations, subject to the applicable statutory requirements. This cannot be excluded by contract; it applies automatically.
Construction Arbitration
Representing contractors and developers in construction arbitration through DIAC and ICC including FIDIC dispute adjudication board proceedings and enforcement of arbitration awards.
UAE Specific
Many UAE construction contracts contain arbitration agreements. The applicable dispute-resolution procedure depends on the terms of the particular contract and any valid arbitration agreement. Getting the right arbitration clause and following it correctly can be the difference between winning and losing your claim.
Construction Contract Drafting & Review
Drafting and reviewing construction contracts, subcontracts, and consultant agreements before signing to identify unfair risk allocation, missing clauses, and hidden obligations.
UAE Specific
Most construction problems start with a poorly written contract. A contract reviewed before signing costs far less than a dispute resolved after. We check FIDIC amendments and bespoke contracts.
Subcontractor Claims & Disputes
Advising subcontractors on payment claims, variation entitlements, delay rights, and disputes with main contractors across Dubai and UAE construction projects.
UAE Specific
A subcontractor’s ability to pursue a claim against an employer or developer depends on the contractual structure, applicable UAE law and the specific legal basis of the claim. In many projects, the subcontractor’s primary contractual claim is against the main contractor. Understanding this early affects how you structure your claim and your evidence.
Construction Litigation in Dubai Courts
Representing contractors, developers and project owners in construction litigation before the competent Dubai Courts or DIFC Courts where the applicable jurisdictional requirements are satisfied.
UAE Specific
UAE courts use court-appointed experts to assess technical construction disputes. Court-appointed experts may provide technical findings that can be influential in construction disputes. The court ultimately determines the dispute after considering the expert report together with the other evidence and legal submissions.
- For Expats & Internationals
If You Are an Expat or Foreign Company on a UAE Construction Project in Dubai
International companies and expat professionals make up a large part of Dubai’s construction industry. But UAE construction law has some rules that many foreign companies do not know about until something goes wrong.
Construction projects in the UAE may be governed by the parties’ contractual terms, including FIDIC-based provisions where adopted, together with applicable UAE federal and emirate-level legislation and regulations. The UAE Civil Code can override what your contract says, especially on decennial liability and payment rights.
FIDIC contracts in Dubai are almost always amended by the employer. The particular conditions can change key rules around delay, payment, and dispute resolution. Always read the full amended version before signing.
Claim-notification requirements depend on the applicable FIDIC edition and the Particular Conditions agreed for the project. Failure to comply with a contractual notice requirement may affect entitlement to a claim.
Construction arbitration in Dubai is usually through DIAC. Depending on the arbitration agreement, construction disputes may also be referred to other arbitral institutions, such as the ICC or another agreed institution. Choosing the right arbitration forum before the dispute starts affects your costs and your outcome.
Our team handles construction cases in Arabic, English, Russian, Urdu, Turkish and Hindi. You do not need a separate translator. We manage all court filings and arbitration submissions in the right language.
- Your Situation
Are You Dealing with One of These?
Construction disputes do not start with a court case. They start with a payment that does not arrive, a delay that nobody will take responsibility for, or a contract clause that suddenly becomes a problem. If any of these sound familiar, we can help.
- Know Your Rights
How Construction Law Works in Dubai
Construction law in Dubai combines two things: your contract and UAE law. Both apply at the same time. Understanding how they interact is the key to protecting your rights.
Construction Law Dubai
The Dubai Construction Court System
Where no valid arbitration agreement applies, the competent court for a construction dispute is determined in accordance with the applicable jurisdictional and procedural rules. The court appoints independent technical experts to assess the facts. These experts write a report that is usually very influential on the judge's decision. Your lawyer needs to brief the expert correctly and challenge any findings that are wrong. The court process can take 1 to 2 years for complex cases.
Proceedings before the Dubai Courts are conducted in Arabic. Our construction lawyers advise and represent clients in construction disputes before the competent courts and dispute-resolution forums.
Construction Law Dubai
Your Rights When Something Goes Wrong
A contractor’s right to suspend work for non-payment depends on the applicable contractual provisions and UAE law, including compliance with any required notices and procedural conditions.Contractual delay damages may be claimed or deducted where the contractual and legal requirements are satisfied, subject to the applicable UAE rules governing agreed compensation and the circumstances of the delay. Under the UAE Civil Transactions Law currently in force, the statutory decennial-liability regime applies to qualifying structural failures and defects for ten years, and contractual provisions purporting to exclude or limit that statutory liability are ineffective. Knowing these rights early changes what you do on site not just in court.
Not sure what stage your case is at or what your rights are? Call us now. We will tell you exactly where you stand in plain language, no legal jargon
- Client Outcomes
What Our Clients Say | Real Cases, Real Outcomes
Construction cases in Dubai can change a person’s life. Here is what clients say about working with our lawyers in their own words.
- Our Team
The Lawyers Who Will Handle Your Construction Case In Dubai
Construction cases need experienced hands. At Leaders Advocates, your case goes to a named construction lawyer from day one. Our team has handled hundreds of construction cases across all of Dubai’s courts.
Faris Raian
Founder Partner
Faris Raian has represented clients across Dubai courts for over 15 years, establishing our firm as a top construction law firm Dubai. As a leading construction lawyer Dubai, he has successfully handled hundreds of contract disputes, FIDIC claims, and payment cases. Fully fluent in Arabic, he appears regularly before the Dubai Courts to protect his clients’ rights.
“Construction disputes demand immediate, decisive action. I understand the commercial weight a delayed project carries, and I fight to protect your interests.”
Ekaterina Butseva
Founder Partner
Ekaterina Butseva is a highly sought-after construction law expert in Dubai, specializing in dispute strategies for international clients and expatriates. Within our experienced construction law firm, she handles complex cross-border contract claims, arbitration proceedings, and cases requiring deep knowledge of both local and international construction standards. She is recognized as a trusted construction dispute lawyer who builds structurally sound cases for non-Arabic speaking clients.
“Every construction case is unique, especially for clients navigating the UAE system. I take the time to build a strategy tailored precisely to your project.”
Majed Al Sheikh
Senior Lawyer
Dr. Majid Mohammed Al-Sheikh Al-Khazraji holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Law and Islamic Sharia from Al-Azhar University, Cairo. He served as President of the State Audit Institution in the UAE for 38 years and has been registered as a lawyer with the Ministry of Justice since 1980.
“I make sure no client feels lost in the process. Every question gets a clear, honest answer.”
- How It Works
What Happens After You Contact Our Construction Law Team
- FAQs
Questions Our Construction Law Team Gets Asked Every Day
These are real questions from contractors, developers, subcontractors, and project owners dealing with construction disputes in Dubai.
My contractor was not paid and stopped work on my project. Is that legal in Dubai?
Under certain FIDIC forms and contractual provisions, a contractor may have a right to suspend work for non-payment, subject to the applicable contract wording, notice requirements and waiting periods.
I missed the 28-day notice deadline in my FIDIC contract. Have I lost my claim?
Possibly, but not always. UAE courts and arbitrators apply FIDIC time bars strictly. However, The effect of a late notice depends on the applicable FIDIC edition, Particular Conditions, governing law and circumstances of the claim. A late notice should therefore be assessed against the specific contractual and legal framework. Do not assume your claim is gone. Contact a construction lawyer immediately to assess your options before you do anything else.
What is FIDIC, and why does it matter for my Dubai construction project?
FIDIC stands for the International Federation of Consulting Engineers. It is the organization that publishes the most widely used standard construction contract forms in the world and they are used on most major construction projects in Dubai anworld, UAE. The Red Book is the most common. Understanding your FIDIC contract, especially the parts your employer has amended, is essential before any dispute arises.
The developer has deducted liquidated damages from my payment. Can they do that?
A developer can only deduct liquidated damages if the delay was your fault and the contract clearly states the LD rate. If the developer caused or contributed to the delay, the LD deduction may be reduced or removed entirely. Under UAE law, agreed compensation for delay may be subject to judicial adjustment in accordance with the applicable Civil Transactions Law and the circumstances of the loss actually suffered.
My building has structural defects 5 years after completion. Who is responsible?
Under the decennial-liability provisions of the UAE Civil Transactions Law currently in force, contractors and supervising engineers may be jointly liable for ten years for total or partial collapse and qualifying defects that threaten the stability or safety of the building or fixed installation.
What is the difference between construction arbitration and going to court in Dubai?
Construction arbitration may be conducted through DIAC or another agreed arbitral institution. Confidentiality, duration and procedure depend on the applicable arbitration agreement, institutional rules and circumstances of the dispute.
My subcontractor did bad work, and the developer is holding me responsible. What are my options?
A main contractor’s responsibility to the employer for subcontracted works depends on the main contract, applicable UAE law and the circumstances of the subcontracted performance. You can pursue the subcontractor for any losses you suffer because of their poor work, including any amounts the developer deducts from your payment. The ability to recover losses from a subcontractor depends on the contractual relationship, available evidence, applicable UAE law and the circumstances giving rise to the loss. We advise on both the claim against the subcontractor and the defense against the developer.
Need A Construction Lawyer Dubai? Your Construction Law Firm In Dubai Is Ready To Help
A construction dispute in Dubai can escalate quickly. The longer you wait to get a lawyer involved, the fewer options you have. Our construction litigation team is ready right now. Call us or WhatsApp us. We will get back to you immediately.