Dubai is no longer the whole story: Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and the new Middle East legal market
10/05/2026
By
Saad Akhtar Ben Quarry
Senior Director Ben Quarry is joined by Saad Akhtar, Director in SSQ’s Dubai office, for an in-depth look at the rapidly evolving legal market across the GCC.
Together they discuss:
Why Abu Dhabi and Riyadh are now some of the fastest-growing legal markets globally
How the Middle East legal market has evolved far beyond construction and energy
The rise of sovereign wealth funds, private credit, tech and AI in the region
What international candidates consistently get wrong when interviewing for Middle East roles
Why more lawyers are relocating permanently rather than treating the region as a short-term step
Drawing on more than a decade in legal recruitment and six years in the Middle East, Saad shares practical insight into what firms are really looking for and how lawyers can position themselves in an increasingly competitive market.
