Fenwick Elliott
in the Middle East & North Africa
As the UK’s largest construction and energy law specialists,
Fenwick Elliott’s international office has been strategically
located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), since 2015.
Due to the UAE’s close proximity and connection to key
emerging international markets, this supports Fenwick Elliott’s
commitment to the wider Middle East & Africa region, allowing
us to better serve both our existing and future, international
and regionally focused clients.
At Fenwick Elliott, we combine an extensive knowledge of local
laws together with a legal pedigree of over thirty years with
our highly acclaimed, international construction law expertise.
Our aim, is to partner with our clients throughout the projects
contractual lifecycle covering all phases from inception to
completion, offering effective, legal services and advising on
matters that protect the interest of our clients, at all times,
across the globe.
Our expert team spend 100% of their time working on
construction law matters in the building, engineering and
energy sectors both on dispute and non-dispute related
work. This makes us true construction law specialists
and is the key differentiator between us and other law firms
with construction departments.
We represent clients at all levels of the construction supply
chain, including employers, contractors, architects, institutional
investors, governments and consultants worldwide. Our
specialist focus means we understand all types of construction
and energy projects and how they are managed, where
and why problems occur and, importantly, the underlying
commercial objectives.
Our work has ranged from heavy infrastructure to buildings,
bridges, dams, pipelines and refineries. We have worked
on projects across North Africa as well as acted for clients
throughout the region in a variety of projects both in the Middle
East and in the UK.
As well as offering project support, contract and documentation,
dispute avoidance and dispute resolution services, we are also
very well placed to advise on various general commercial or
corporate matters in the UAE and MENA region, in both
Arabic and English.
Examples of our work in MENA & South East Asia

North African Road
Authority, Ethiopia
Advising the Authority on arbitration
proceedings arising out of two
road projects as part of a series
of projects funded by the World
Bank which aim to rehabilitate
the network of roads in Ethiopia
to asphalt concrete therefore,
improving the transport and
infrastructure system within
the country.
Hydroelectric Power Project,
Nigeria
Advising a Chinese state owned
hydropower, engineering and
construction company in the
defence of ICC proceedings
relating to disputes on a US$5.79
billion hydroelectric power project.
Crude oil export pipeline
project, North Africa
Acting for an EPC contractor
responsible for the construction
of the pumping stations on a
North African crude oil export
pipeline project. Providing advice
in connection with disputes with
the pipeline’s owners valued
at approximately
US$100 million.
Pump station project for
pipeline, Sudan
Providing ongoing project support
and advice for a joint venture in
relation to claims and stations,
including disputes with owner
and certain subcontractors
and suppliers. Claims circa
US$90million.
Hydro plant, Asia
Acting for the National Energy
Authority of a Government to
advise on and defend an ICC
arbitration under an amended
FIDIC 1987 Red Book contract
for the construction of a
hydroelectric dam in Asia.
Sea wall project, Korea
Advising one of Korea’s
top-ranked contractors on
international mediation and
arbitration proceedings against a
European supplier in connection
with defective equipment for a
sea wall project in Korea.
High-rise tower development,
Korea
Advising a major Korean
developer on specialist
subcontract foreign law
procurement issues in connection
with a major mixed-use high rise
development in Seoul.
Oil & Gas, Thailand
Advising an international oil
company in respect of a potential
professional negligence claim
against engineers in relating to
defects in the FEED/P. Bespoke
appointment, Thai law and LCIA
arbitration.

Manufacturing facilities, Motorway, Pakistan

Uganda (FIDIC Red Book)
Advising a FTSE 100 company
in relation to manufacturing
facilities in Turkey and Uganda
procured on the basis of the
FIDIC Red Book with bespoke
amendments, together with
companion appointments for
the professional team.
Acting in two ICC arbitration
proceedings on delay and
disruption claims in relation to
the construction of a Motorway
in Pakistan. ICC Arbitration
proceedings have included
Partial Award enforcing Dispute
Adjudication Board decision
under the FIDIC Red Book.

Gas to liquid plant, Nigeria Muharraq Water Treatment Construction of gas-fired

Advising an international
contractor in respect of claims
and counterclaims under a
bespoke EPC contract with a
multi stage dispute escalation
clause including arbitration under
the UNCITRAL Rules with the L
CIA as default appointing
institute. Claim values of
€125 million.
Plant, Bahrain
Acting on behalf of Samsung
in relation to international
arbitration proceedings (LCIA)
brought by Implenia Ltd, a
Swiss tunnelling contractor. The
dispute relates to a micro-
tunnelling system.
power and desalination plant,
Kuwait
Acting on behalf of a major
international EPC contractor in
connection with disputes arising
during the construction of a
gas-fired power station and
multi-stage flash desalination
plant in Kuwait, including
ICC arbitration
proceedings.

Oil terminal refinery, Libya
Acting for a subsidiary of the State
Oil Company of Libya In connection
with a oil terminal refinery project
at Zueitina Port. The dispute centred
on the premature failure of a large
shell and tube condenser, breach of
contract and business interruption
claims. The dispute was successfully
settled in an International
mediation held in London.
Power station and
desalination plant, Oman
Acting for a top-ranked Korean
EPC Contractor in connection
with disputes arising from the
construction of an independent
power and water plant in
Oman, including parallel ICC
arbitration proceedings with
amounts in dispute in
excess of US$100 million.
Lusail City, Qatar
A US$1.2 billion project which
is the newest planned city
in Qatar. Advising a Chinese
state-owned hydropower,
engineering and construction
company on disputes which
have arisen on infrastructure
works. Sums in dispute exceed
US$330,000,000.

Metro Project, Saudi Arabia
Acting for the civil works
contractor (including two of the
largest names in construction)
responsible for the design and
build of two of the Riyadh
Metro lines. The claims run to
in excess of $500m and are the
subject of an ICC arbitration.
Power station and
desalination plant, Dubai,
UAE
Acting for an EPC contractor in
connection with disputes arising
from the construction of an
independent power and water
plant in Dubai, including ICC
arbitration proceedings.
Power plant, Oman
Advising on disputes arising out
of the construction of a power
plant in Oman. ICC arbitration
proceedings, value of dispute
circa US$150 million.
Palm Jumeirah, UAE Industry recognition
Acting for a Dubai-based
contractor in an international
arbitration under the DIAC rules
for a civil engineering contractor
in Abu Dhabi in respect of a
UAED47 million claim relating to
part of a major development in
Dubai under a bespoke contract.
Key contacts
AHMED IBRAHIM, PARTNER
PATRICK STONE, PARTNER
Fenwick Elliott LLP
Office 1A, Silver Tower Cluster i,
Jumeirah Lakes Towers, PO Box 283149,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Telephone: +971 (0)4 454 2355
Email: enquiries@fenwickelliott.com
Website: www.fenwickelliott.com
@FELawMENA
www.linkedin.com/company/fenwickelliott/
www.fenwickelliott.com
E: aibrahim@fenwickelliott.com
T: +971 (0)4 454 2355
M: +971 (0)56 399 2344
Ahmed has vast experience in
handling cases involving major
construction, infrastructure
and energy projects, often with
significant sums of money in
dispute. He has extensive experience
in civil law jurisdictions with an
in-depth understanding of local laws
and practises in Arab countries.
Ahmed has represented regional
and international high-profile
clients in high value disputes, and
has advised clients for many years
on projects in countries across the
MENA region, including Bahrain,
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Libya, Oman,
Qatar, UAE, Afghanistan and Yemen.
His expertise includes acting as
counsel or arbitrator in disputes
E: pstone@fenwickelliott.com
T: +971 (0)4 454 2355
M: +971 (0)50 468 7649
Patrick has significant experience
of construction and engineering
disputes on major international
projects, with a particular focus
on the Middle East where he has
spent a large part of his career.
Patrick specialises in International
Arbitration and has worked on
disputes relating to projects in a
number of jurisdictions including
the UK, the UAE, Qatar, Oman,
Iraq, Egypt, South Africa and
Madagascar and has acted
across various industries, including
healthcare, education, IT, transport,
infrastructure, housing, commercial,
retail, power, oil and gas, renewable
energy, nuclear, mining, water
and utilities.
Ahmed has handled cases under
most major arbitration rules,
including DIFC-LCIA, Dubai
International Arbitration Centre
(DIAC), International Centre for the
Settlement of Investment Disputes
(ICSID), International Chamber of
Commerce (ICC), the Swiss Rules
of International Arbitration
and Cairo Regional Centre
for International Commercial
Arbitration (CRCICA). In addition
to acting as counsel,
he has served as sole arbitrator,
co-arbitrator or chairman of arbitral
tribunals in more than 100 ad hoc
and institutional arbitration cases.
on arbitrations being heard
pursuant to ICC, LCIA, DIAC and
ADCCAC rules. Patrick is familiar
with a number of standard form
construction contracts including
FIDIC and NEC, and has acted on
disputes arising out of bespoke
forms of contract, particularly
EPC contracts.
Patrick has acted on disputes
arising out of a number of major
international projects across a
broad range of industry sectors,
with particular experience of
disputes relating to oil and gas
and infrastructure projects.