Dubai is a city of possibility, where skyscrapers have risen from the desert and man-made islands rise out of the sea. Over the past 30 years the city has transformed from a little-known desert kingdom to an international economic hub, boasting the world’s tallest building and the third-busiest airport.

In the years before the GFC, few countries could rival Dubai for economic growth. But when the crisis hit, the high-flyers had the furthest to fall: while Dubai’s GDP in 2008 was at a high of US$315 billion, the following year it plummeted by 20 per cent to US$253 billion, World Bank statistics show.

The past five years have been kinder to Dubai’s economy, with steady growth year on year. For 2014, GDP per capita hit a new high of $401 billion, though growth has levelled out since 2012. Confidence is beginning to return to the market, and expats along with it.

Golden appeal
Despite the turbulent economic circumstances, Australians have continued to embrace Dubai, with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade estimating around 16,000 Australians live and work in the UAE. Lawyers are no exception, with hundreds flocking to global firms and private practice roles in the region. The appeal is understandable, according to DLA Piper human resources manager (Middle East) Katie Barker. Dubai is becoming a premier destination for Aussies overseas, rivalling more established legal markets.

“Ten years ago, London tended to be the location of choice for Australian lawyers to do an overseas stint,” Ms Barker says.

“However, as the Middle East legal market matures, and with nearly all of the global elite and international law firms practising here, there’s a great deal of opportunities – particularly in those firms undertaking mainly international or common law-based mandates.”

Other attractions of Dubai for Australians include the promise of a tax-free salary and its closer proximity compared with European capitals, Ms Barker says.

Demand for legal work in the region is also robust, particularly in infrastructure projects, Ashurst Dubai managing partner Joss Dare believes. He points to energy, transport and social infrastructure as major growth sectors.

“In this context there is a lot of activity for construction, general projects and finance lawyers of all types, but especially project finance and banking lawyers,” Mr Dare says.

“In addition, oil and gas, of course, is the main driver of most of the region’s economies and we expect this to continue, notwithstanding the recent drops in the oil price. Since the GFC, the region also experienced a significant rise in disputes work, particularly international arbitrations related to major projects.”

The in-house market is moving more sluggishly, recruiting firm Hays Legal director Darren Buchanan suggests.

“The market is not booming, but there are some exciting opportunities available at the junior to mid-level,” Mr Buchanan says. “The senior market is currently offering only a few opportunities, and when new jobs do arise, the level of competition for these roles is very high.”

Dubai is seen as a regional centre, meaning lawyers based in the city often end up working across the Middle East and North Africa. This is particularly true of global firms, which tend to set up offices in Dubai and maintain a minimal presence across the rest of the region, Mr Dare says.

Fighting for a place
While demand for legal services is strong, plenty of lawyers are lining up for those roles. The glut of expats in the past 18 months means firms are growing reluctant to recruit from overseas, Mr Buchanan warns.

“If an Australian lawyer is looking to relocate to Dubai from Australia with no regional experience, then it is very competitive,” he says. “If they are already here on the ground with regional experience, then they stand as good a chance as any other lawyer.”

Ms Barker is somewhat more optimistic, citing growth opportunities for firms in the region. However, she warns most firms will only consider candidates with long-term plans.

“The Dubai legal market is often referred to as ‘over-lawyered’, but most firms are intending on a degree of growth in the region in coming years,” she says.

“Most employers would expect a commitment of between three and five years from overseas hires, so this is something that any applicant should take into account when contemplating a move.”

In particular, she suggests firms are looking for lawyers with sector expertise and the ability to build local relationships.

“In order to be a successful lawyer, it is no longer enough to have only technical excellence – firms and their clients are now demanding more, including commerciality, leadership, relationship skills, an ability to manage change and to offer innovative solutions,” she says.

Getting qualified
Dubai has one of the highest proportions of foreign residents in the world, with the CIA World Fact Book putting the number of Emirati citizens at just 20 per cent of the population. This means being a foreigner is no hindrance to entering the Dubai legal market, Mr Dare believes.

“There are relatively few Emirati lawyers in international law firms in Dubai, which remains a market that is overwhelmingly expat,” he says.

Indeed, Australians are one of the predominant groups among lawyers in Dubai, alongside those from the UK, US, New Zealand and India, Mr Buchanan believes.

From a practical standpoint, practising law in the UAE is relatively hassle-free.

Lawyers must obtain a valid residency visa and work permit, as well as register with the Dubai Legal Affairs Department. However, the only requirements for registration are proof that the lawyer holds legal qualifications, is admitted to practise law in any jurisdiction and has no criminal record.

“Most international law firms, including DLA Piper, will manage the visa process on behalf of their staff,” Ms Barker says.

Mr Dare suggests language barriers are unlikely to crop up for Australians working at major firms.

“You do not need local qualification or to speak Arabic, as most business, certainly most international business, is conducted in English,” he says.

“The only exception is local advocacy work, meaning appearing before the local courts, which is reserved [for Emiratis].”

While the market is cut-throat, he urges his Australian compatriots to give Dubai a chance – and, in his eyes, their nationality can only be a bonus.

“Australian lawyers are, as a breed, highly regarded here – just as they are in other markets,” he says.