Senior Legal Counsel – UAE Tech Startup | Dubai, UAE

An exciting opportunity has emerged with a fast-growing international technology business expanding across the MENA region. We are seeking a commercially minded, hands-on Senior Legal Counsel to support regional growth, with a particular focus on the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

This is a broad role for someone who can balance the pace and ambiguity of a scaling business with the governance requirements of a larger corporate environment.

The Opportunity

This is not a narrow specialist role. You will be the key legal partner to the international business, supporting commercial activity, market entry and operational decision-making.

You will need to be comfortable moving quickly, prioritising revenue-critical work and providing practical solutions rather than creating unnecessary process.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts, customer agreements and NDAs
• Advising on employment law and people-related matters across international markets
• Supporting market-entry activity, including trade licences, local compliance and Social Security considerations
• Advising stakeholders on regional legal and regulatory nuances across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt
• Partnering with commercial, HR, finance and operational teams on day-to-day legal matters
• Managing and coordinating external counsel and specialist advisers where required
• Acting as a bridge between a fast-moving international team and US-based legal stakeholders
• Creating proportionate legal processes that enable the business to scale without slowing it down
• Mentoring and supporting a junior legal team member

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified lawyer with substantial in-house legal experience
• Strong commercial contract drafting, review and negotiation experience
• A proven generalist background across commercial, employment and compliance matters
• Regional experience in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and/or Egypt
• Experience supporting a startup, scale-up or high-growth business
• Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity and balance competing priorities
• Commercial judgement, pragmatism and confidence engaging directly with non-legal stakeholders
• Comfortable taking ownership of urgent, revenue-critical matters
• Arabic reading, writing and language skills

Advantageous:

• Experience supporting market entry across MENA
• Familiarity with trade licensing, employment structures and regulatory requirements in the region

Career Progression

This role offers the opportunity to shape and grow the international legal function as the business expands into new markets. As the international division develops, the successful candidate will take on broader strategic responsibility and play a central role in supporting expansion across EMEA and beyond.

What We Offer

A high-impact role within an ambitious technology business, working closely with senior international stakeholders. You will have the autonomy to make a tangible difference, exposure to complex cross-border work and the opportunity to help build a scalable legal function.

Recruitment Process

The role has recently opened, so please apply directly. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and shortlisted candidates will be contacted to discuss the opportunity in more detail. The interview process will include online and face-to-face stages depending on location and availability.

Your Consultant

Michael Deane is a Senior Recruitment Consultant specialising in placing C-Suite, VP and senior-level technical, commercial and business development professionals within technology across the Middle East.