Once A Lawyer

From Coldplay concerts to F1 races and World Cup tournaments, the Middle East is a hotspot not just for entertainment but also for opportunities—especially for Indian-qualified lawyers. As the region continues on its charge from ‘emerging market’ to ‘mature market’ status, new avenues have opened up for lawyers. International law firms, especially those headquartered in the UK and the US, have been expanding their presence. Indian law firms have also been opening offices in the region, with Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas opening an office in Abu Dhabi earlier this year. 

These developments have spelled great news for India-qualified lawyers. Many of them are gravitating toward the Middle East as an attractive destination to work abroad. Unlike other foreign jurisdictions, the region offers fewer hurdles. The bar qualification requirements and work visa challenges are notably less stringent. Add to this, the increasing traction along the India-Middle East business corridor, and it’s easy to see why many international and local firms are setting up dedicated India desks and practices.

“The demand for dual qualification (US/UK bar) is less stringent in the Middle East compared to other jurisdictions for Indian lawyers,” said Rishabh Chopra, Partner at Vahura. “Within the region, Dubai-based firms are still looking for dual-qualified lawyers but firms in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait are more open to overlooking this requirement for talent that has significant exposure to handling international clients and has worked on global transactions and matters.” Chopra was in Dubai in October, to moderate a panel on “How to Recruit, Retain and Reward Talent” at the Law Ninjas Middle East General Counsel summit. 

A few years ago, international law firms considered it a gamble to recruit Indian lawyers without international bar qualifications. However, the success of a number of India-qualified lawyers in the Middle East has revised the trend. The factors that have worked in favour of these lawyers include their strong work ethic, ability to adapt and consistent track record in delivering cost-effective excellence. Another factor that is perhaps underrated is the ease with which India-qualified lawyers are able to culturally adapt to the region, given the large Indian diaspora and strong networks. 

At Vahura, we’ve been actively engaged in this market, advising firms on recruitment strategies and, more recently, expanding our outreach to open doors for Indian lawyers ready to make their mark internationally. As part of these efforts, we’ve been mapping Indian talent across the region and analysing recruitment trends. We’re not in the habit of gatekeeping so, we’re excited to share some data points that have caught our attention.

Our survey of over 100 Indian graduate lawyers in the Middle East revealed some fascinating trends and insights. A significant 60 percent are thriving in corporate, banking & finance, and dispute resolution practices,  - testament to the region's growing demand for expertise in these areas. Nearly 30 percent of these lawyers hold a master’s degree, with many of them having made their move to the region after an LLM. 

What truly caught our attention, however, was the career trajectory of these India-qualified lawyers. Most have chosen the world of law firms over in-house roles, drawn by the exciting opportunities,  global exposure and healthy compensation offered by firms in the Middle East. When it comes to locations that India-qualified lawyers prefer to work in, Dubai is unsurprisingly top of the charts But Abu Dhabi is hot on its heels and is closely followed by Saudi Arabia. The latter development points to rapid influx of both international and local law firms setting up shop in the wake of recent changes in the Kingdom’s business laws.

The Middle East’s legal market offers immense opportunities for India-qualified lawyers and law firms alike, driven by its thriving business ecosystem and growing India-Middle East synergies, making it a prime platform for cross-border growth. 

Please feel free to reach out with your own insights or opinions on the same—we’d love to hear from you!