Saudi Arabia

Locations

Saudi Arabia

We connect the dots between your goals, global market dynamics and the law to help you succeed in the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is pursuing one of the most ambitious transformations the world has ever seen. Cities are being reimagined. New industries are being born. Governance frameworks are being rewritten.

The opportunity for local government bodies, domestic and international businesses and investors is extraordinary. But so is the complexity. Laws and regulations are evolving rapidly. In-house legal teams must navigate new frameworks, approvals and compliance requirements with precision. And projects must increasingly balance international standards with local law.

Yet within these challenges lie an extraordinary future for Saudi Arabia, and we’re uniquely placed to help our clients take advantage of it. From Riyadh, Al Khobar and Abu Dhabi and Dubai to London and New York, we’re empowering clients throughout the Kingdom and beyond to play a defining role in this new era.

Your vision, at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s future

Operating from offices in Riyadh and Al Khobar and across the Middle East, our expert, friendly and dedicated team can support you at every stage of your journey:

We help you make sense of the Kingdom’s complexity: assessing your project’s feasibility, understanding regulatory requirements and establishing corporate and governance structures. By listening to your goals and clarifying what’s possible before you commit, we help you anticipate challenges, plan budgets and align your initiative with Vision 2030 priorities.

Getting your project documentation right can make the difference between success and failure. We draft and review contracts, regulatory filings and partnership documentation to identify risks, protect your interests and comply with Saudi law. We guide you through approvals, tender processes and negotiations, helping you resolve deadlocks and align local requirements with international standards.

The day-to-day execution of ambitious projects brings enormous complexity due to maze-like approvals, multiple stakeholders and evolving regulations. We help you navigate contracts, risk allocation and compliance, train your teams and troubleshoot delays or disputes. This makes it much easier to deliver giga projects, community initiatives and sports events smoothly.

As projects near completion and budgets tighten, minor issues can escalate into significant claims or delays. We build integrated, specialist solutions that protect your rights and manage disputes before they threaten your objectives. We help you formulate and respond to claims, ensuring contractual compliance and applying early intervention and dispute-avoidance measures to keep your project on track.

When disputes or delays threaten your project, we take decisive action to resolve them. We work with you to achieve a resolution as early as possible, thinking laterally to deliver quality, commercial advice. Often, this involves championing alternative dispute resolution methods, such as executive negotiation or mediation. If a formal dispute process is necessary, our court and arbitration experts are ready to help you achieve your objectives.

Lawyers as extraordinary as your ambitions

Clients trust us because of our rich history in the region, our world-leading industry knowledge and expertise across the full project lifecycle, which allow us to solve their most complex challenges. Here’s what sets us apart:

Expertise you won’t find elsewhere

Our lawyers include seasoned Saudi litigators with judge-side experience who have fought and won in courts across the Kingdom. We are Saudi experts operating on an international stage, not international lawyers adapting to Saudi practice. This means we not only understand how Saudi law is interpreted, applied and enforced, but also why it’s evolved in the way it has. From government entities to Fortune 500 companies, our clients turn to us because they recognise the difference, and the results, that our expertise delivers.

Masters of local and global markets

Our team combines deep, on-the-ground knowledge of Saudi law with world-class international experience. This means we can help you move decisively at every stage, whether you’re establishing operations, expanding business or exiting markets. Along the way, we’ll help you capitalise on Vision 2030 initiatives and meet sector-specific requirements, including data privacy, workforce inclusion and cloud regulations. You can rely on us to deliver results that meet global standards and reflect the realities of doing business in Saudi Arabia.

Your disputes specialists

Unlike most law firms in the region, our services don’t stop at M&A or standard transactions. We specialise in dispute resolution at every stage and in every Saudi Court or other disputes forum. Whether navigating claims, mitigating litigation risk or advising on regulatory compliance, we protect your interests before, during and after disputes, giving you the confidence to deliver on your ambitions. Our one-firm structure and culture of collaboration gives you access to integrated, specialist advice on disputes, wherever you operate.

Global leaders in sports and entertainment

We’re one of only three law firms globally recognised by Chambers & Partners for top-tier sports practices. In Saudi Arabia, we apply this expertise to landmark projects, from FIFA World Cup stadia and Expo 2030 to Premier League transfers. You can trust us to provide specialist guidance on regulatory compliance, naming rights and dispute avoidance, helping your projects meet global standards and putting you at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s blossoming sports industry.

Legal solutions tailored to your needs

The scale and pace of transformation in Saudi Arabia have expanded the legal needs of businesses entering or operating in the Kingdom. This is creating a demand for legal advisors with multidimensional expertise.

Drawing on decades of experience, we support clients across the full spectrum of Saudi legal matters, including:

Construction, EPC and professional services (e.g. Saudi Council of Engineering)
Corporate, commercial and M&A transactions and regulatory
Employment advisory and disputes
International arbitration and disputes
Saudi disputes, litigation and specialized Saudi tribunals (e.g. customs and tax disputes before GSTC)
Financial services and capital markets regulatory
Hotels and hospitality
Intellectual property (IP) and technology transactions
Planning and zoning
Public tenders and government procurement and “local content” requirements
Real estate/project development

Regulatory expertise

In a market where regulation is continually being reshaped to support new industries and investment models, you need top legal advisors who can interpret change and anticipate what comes next.

We advise our clients on a variety of issues, including:

Antibribery law, internal investigation, and white-collar crime support, including FCPA and UK Bribery Act compliance
Commercial agency, distribution and franchising
Competition law (GAC)
Data privacy, personal data protection and cybersecurity
Environmental protection
Customs duties and taxes, including income, withholding, VAT, and Zakat (ZATCA)
Military, defense, security and industrial participation/“offsets” (e.g., GAMI licensing)
Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and consumer protection matters
Trademark and intellectual property (IP) protection and licensing (SAIP)