Awatif Shoqi

Awatif Shoqi is the owner and founder of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy, a full-service law firm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Her recognition as recipient of the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2026 — Family Lawyer of the Year in the UAE reflects a distinguished reputation in family law within one of the region's most active legal markets.

The firm

Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy is a UAE-based law firm established in 2003. It is a premier full-service practice dedicated to offering insightful advice and legal representation across a broad array of areas, including family and civil law, criminal law, and corporate and commercial matters. The firm is based in Dubai, on Sheikh Zayed Road, and serves clients who need structured advice, court representation and practical legal solutions. It has been consistently recognised for excellence across multiple areas of law and enjoys strong client ratings.

A leading family lawyer

As the firm's owner, Awatif Shoqi (also known as Awatif Al Khouri) is a familiar figure before the UAE courts and a leading name in the country's legal community. Her standing in family law is reflected in her membership of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, an invitation-only body of specialist family-law practitioners from around the world, and in the firm's recognition — including being named law firm of the year in the family-law category by a leading international directory. This combination of courtroom experience and international recognition marks her out as a trusted adviser in sensitive and often difficult family matters.

Family law in the United Arab Emirates

Family law in the United Arab Emirates has developed considerably in recent years, reflecting the country's diverse, international population. Matters such as marriage, divorce, child custody and guardianship, maintenance and the division of assets are governed by the UAE's personal status framework. Importantly, the UAE has introduced provisions allowing non-Muslim and expatriate residents to have certain family matters determined under civil law arrangements, alongside the personal status regime, and dedicated courts and procedures have been established to handle these cases. Dubai and the wider UAE are home to a large expatriate community, which means that family disputes frequently carry a cross-border dimension — involving parties of different nationalities, assets in more than one country, and questions about which law applies and how foreign judgments are recognised.

For individuals and families navigating separation, custody arrangements or the protection of their interests, experienced local counsel is essential. A specialist family lawyer must be able to advise clients clearly on their rights and options within this evolving framework, to represent them effectively before the courts, and to handle emotionally charged matters with discretion and sensitivity. Practitioners who understand both the personal status system and the newer civil family-law provisions, and who appreciate the international character of many UAE families, are especially well placed to serve this community.

The breadth of the firm behind her is a further advantage. Because family disputes so often intersect with other areas of law — the division of business interests, the ownership of property, questions of inheritance and succession, and at times criminal or civil claims — a family lawyer who can draw on colleagues in corporate, civil, criminal and commercial practice can offer clients a genuinely joined-up service. For an international clientele in Dubai, that combination of dedicated family-law expertise and full-service support helps ensure that every dimension of a client's situation is addressed under one roof.

Family-law matters are among the most personal that any lawyer handles, and clients place great trust in the advisers who guide them through them. Sustained recognition for excellence, strong client ratings and membership of a leading international family-law body together point to a practitioner who has earned that trust over many years of practice before the UAE courts.

Recognition

In naming Awatif Shoqi Family Lawyer of the Year in the UAE for 2026, the Corporate INTL Global Awards recognise a leading practitioner whose experience before the UAE courts, membership of the International Academy of Family Lawyers and standing within a well-regarded full-service firm make her a trusted guide for clients facing family-law matters in Dubai and across the United Arab Emirates.