“Shafiq Mahmoud exemplifies the modern commercial lawyer, combining international legal expertise with strategic insight and an exceptional understanding of the realities of business. His leadership across complex transactions, high-value disputes and cross-border matters reflects a professional who delivers solutions that are as commercially astute as they are legally robust. By uniting technical excellence with practical judgement and an unwavering commitment to client success, Shafiq has earned a reputation as a trusted adviser for businesses navigating an increasingly global marketplace.”

Fantastic Lawyers® Editorial 2026

Shafiq Mahmoud is the Managing Partner of Charter Legal, a specialist law firm based in Dubai. With more than 16 years of legal experience, including over a decade practising in the UAE, he advises clients on commercial and corporate law, construction, real estate, arbitration, DIFC Court litigation and complex cross-border disputes.

Recognised for his strategic commercial advice and practical problem-solving, Shafiq has held senior legal leadership positions with some of the Middle East’s best-known organisations. His combination of private practice, in-house counsel and arbitration experience enables him to provide commercially focused legal solutions for businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions.

What Shafiq Mahmoud Does

Shafiq advises clients across a broad range of commercial and dispute resolution matters, including:

• Commercial and corporate law
• Construction law and construction disputes
• Real estate development and property law
• International and domestic arbitration
• DIFC Courts litigation
• Commercial litigation and dispute resolution
• Hospitality and investment projects
• Corporate governance and compliance
• Islamic banking and finance

He works with developers, multinational businesses, family offices, investors and corporate groups, providing strategic legal advice throughout the life cycle of major commercial projects and complex disputes.

Why He Stands Out

Few lawyers combine Shafiq’s breadth of experience across private practice, multinational corporations and international arbitration. Having served as Chief Legal Counsel, Head of Legal and senior adviser within leading UAE organisations, he understands legal issues from both the boardroom and the courtroom.

Clients value his commercial mindset, strategic thinking and ability to resolve complex legal problems while protecting long-term business objectives. Fluent in three languages and dual-qualified as both an English solicitor and an Arab lawyer, he is particularly well placed to advise clients involved in cross-border transactions and international disputes.

Leadership in Commercial and Real Estate Law

Before founding Charter Legal, Shafiq held several senior legal leadership roles within major UAE businesses. As Chief Legal Counsel for a leading Dubai business group, he managed a legal department of lawyers, paralegals and support staff while advising shareholders and executive leadership on commercial, dispute resolution and compliance matters across multiple jurisdictions.

He previously served as Head of Legal for AWR Properties within the Al Rostamani Group, overseeing significant property transactions, family office matters and litigation. Earlier roles included advising Majid Al Futtaim Properties across master community developments in the UAE, Oman and Lebanon, together with leading commercial and real estate work for Deyaar, one of Dubai’s best-known developers.

His experience also includes contributing to the drafting of UAE legislation relating to real estate and serving on committees responsible for developing new laws within the UAE.

International Arbitration Expertise

Shafiq is an experienced arbitrator and heads Charter Legal’s dispute resolution practice. He is a DIAC-listed Arbitrator, an accredited arbitrator with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) in London and an Ambassador of the Arbitration Academy in Paris.

His involvement in arbitration has included membership of the ICC Palestine Arbitration Committee and the Arab International Arbitrators Group in Dubai. He regularly advises clients involved in commercial, construction and real estate arbitration across the Middle East.

Academic and Professional Credentials

Shafiq holds an LLB, an LLM with honours from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States and an Arbitration Diploma from France. He trained with Dentons Cohen & Grigsby in the United States and gained experience with the DIFC Courts before progressing into senior leadership roles in Dubai.

Earlier in his career, he practised law in Palestine and served as Professor of Commercial Law at An Najah National University. He is also a Certified Board Secretary accredited by Hawkamah and the Dubai Financial Market.

In recognition of his achievements, Shafiq was Highly Commended as Middle East Senior Corporate Counsel of the Year 2017 by the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Commitment to Clients

Shafiq believes that effective legal advice should combine technical excellence with commercial awareness. Whether advising on a major construction project, resolving an international arbitration or supporting a board of directors, he focuses on delivering practical solutions that protect clients’ commercial interests while managing legal risk.