Many India-qualified lawyers are gravitating towards West Asia as an active destination to work abroad, As compared to other foreign jurisdictions, bar qualifications and visa processes in West Asia are relatively smoother. Many firms in Middle East are launching India-focused desks and practice groups.
Many Indian law firms have been opening offices in this region. DSK Legal is the first to have set up full-services branches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai simultaneously. Lawyers from MENA region are exploring career options in Indian firms. Cyril A Amarchand Mangaldas opened an office in Abu Dhabi earlier in 2025. Other Indian firms in the region include Kochhar & Co., AKS Partners and Singularity Legal, among others.
Dubai happens to be the most attractive location for India-qualified lawyers. Abu Dhabi is hot on its heels. It is closely followed by Saudi Arabia.
The competitive practice areas are banking and finance, M&A, international arbitration and tech law. Already, the UK and US law firms are established here, and are scaling. However, the Indian lawyer firms have cut a good image. Some years back, the international firms were reluctant to hire Indian lawyers if they did not have international bar qualifications. However, new talent is emerging from national law universities in recent past and Indian lawyers are becoming successful here. That has brought about a sea change. Dual qualifications (US/UK bar) are not a deal breaker here. Though Dubai-based firms still prefer them, firms across Abu Dhabi, Saudi, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait are more flexible. This is so when the candidates have cross-border experience and client exposure.
The total estimated legal services market in the UAE and Saudi is $15.6 billion. West Asian market offers immense opportunities for India-qualified lawyers and law firms. There is a synergy between India and West Asia.
More than 60 per cent lawyers here work in corporate, banking, finance, and dispute resolution. 30 percent lawyers hold an LLM. Many have moved to the region after postgraduation.
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