Legal Director

General Counsel, Middle East (EPC) International EPC contractor | Dubai or Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, with site travel within the UAEReporting to: Chief Executive Officer, Middle EastLeads: Legal and contracts function, with the first team hire plannedReference: AMB/EX/2026/01Why this role exists nowThe Middle East business of an international EPC contractor is moving from project delivery into a permanent regional operation, with major projects under way in the UAE and an active bid pipeline across the GCC.This is the first General Counsel appointment in the region. The person appointed will set how contract risk is managed on current projects and on every bid that follows.The organisationA state owned international engineering and construction group delivering large industrial and energy projects across several continents. The Middle East business is headquartered in Dubai and is building its regional leadership team, with this role among the first senior appointments.The mandateOwn contract risk across the regional EPC portfolio, from client terms through every subcontract and major supply packageLead claims, variations and extension of time positionsManage disputes through to arbitration where needed, such as DIAC, arbitrateAD, ICC and LCIAReview and sign off the legal position on every regional bidBuild the legal and contracts function, starting with the first hireSelect and manage the external counsel panel and its budgetAdvise the Chief Executive on UAE corporate, employment and regulatory mattersThe first 12 monthsPut a contract risk and claims process in place across the current subcontractsEstablish the external counsel panel and a clear approval route between the region and group head officeMake the first legal hire and set the bid review process for upcoming GCC tendersThe personEssential15 or more years post-qualification experience, with at least 7 in EPC, construction or oil and gasSenior contract and claims experience on projects above USD 500 millionInternational arbitration experience, as counsel or as the in-house leadWorking knowledge of UAE law, FIDIC and the bespoke owner terms used by national energy companiesLaw degree and admission in a recognised jurisdictionValuedLLM or a construction law specialisationA second business languageTime inside an EPC contractor, not only in private practiceWhat to know before you applySome approvals sit with group head office outside the region, so part of the role is building a working route between the twoThis is a first appointment: there is no regional legal team or process to inherit yetNext stepThe first step is a confidential conversation with Ambitek, not an applicationWhere there is a fit, the client name, the full brief are shared on that callIf the role is not right for you, we will tell you directlyIf you know someone it would suit, referrals are handled in the same confidenceContact careers@ambitek.ae quoting AMB/EX/2609/001All conversations are held in confidence. Ambitek will not share your details with the client without your agreement.