Dr. Hassan Elhais
Dr. Hassan Elhais is a prominent legal consultant in Dubai and one of the most widely recognised advisers associated with Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy. At the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025 he was named Best Legal Consultant of the Year in Dubai, a distinction that reflects more than two decades of practice in the United Arab Emirates and a reputation that extends well beyond the Emirates through his extensive commentary and media engagement. Few consultants in the region are as visible or as frequently consulted on questions of UAE law.
Dr. Elhais has built his standing over more than twenty years of UAE legal practice, supported by advanced academic credentials, including a master's degree and a doctorate in law, and training with the Law Society of England and Wales. His experience spans an unusually broad range of disciplines, encompassing family law, criminal defence and civil litigation alongside construction, maritime, banking, corporate and commercial law, inheritance matters, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, intellectual property, labour law and sports law. This breadth is a considerable asset in a jurisdiction where a single client matter can readily touch several fields at once.
He is particularly well known for his work in family and matrimonial matters involving high-net-worth clients, an area in which he has been recognised by leading international directories, and he has taken on international leadership roles within the family-law community, reflecting his engagement with cross-border issues affecting families and children. Matters of this kind often involve multiple jurisdictions, competing legal systems and sensitive personal circumstances, and they call for an adviser who combines technical command with discretion and sound judgement.
Over the course of his career Dr. Elhais has been associated with the handling of many thousands of matters, and his analysis of UAE law is frequently sought by the international and regional press. He has been cited by major global outlets as well as prominent Gulf publications, making him a familiar interpreter of the Emirates' legal system for both domestic and international audiences. This public role complements his advisory practice, since it requires him to explain complex legal questions clearly and accessibly, a skill that serves his clients equally well.
For the international residents and businesses who make up so much of Dubai's population, a consultant who combines deep local knowledge with the ability to explain the law clearly is a considerable asset. Dr. Elhais's practice is built on exactly this capability, translating the requirements of UAE law into practical guidance and confident representation across the many fields in which his clients require assistance. His recognition as Best Legal Consultant of the Year in Dubai at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025 confirms his position among the emirate's leading advisers, and combining wide-ranging expertise, strong academic foundations and a high public profile, Dr. Hassan Elhais continues to serve as a trusted and authoritative legal consultant for clients navigating the law in Dubai.