Photo Courtesy of: Dr Hassan Elhais
For the millions of expatriates who have built their lives in the United Arab Emirates, legal challenges often arrive wrapped in uncertainty. The UAE’s legal system blends civil codes, sharia-based provisions and a web of federal and emirate-level statutes. Matters of family law, inheritance.
Into this complex environment, Dr. Hassan Elhais of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy has become a steady reference point for those who need clear guidance. His career sheds light on how legal practice in the UAE has evolved to meet the needs of an international population and how the country’s own reforms have reshaped the work of legal consultants.
From Academic Foundations to Dubai’s Courtrooms
Dr. Elhais began his legal career with rigorous academic training, earning a diploma in private law that covered sharia, civil, commercial, and litigation disciplines. He later completed a master’s degree in law in 2015 and a Ph.D. in 2019, credentials that have supported his work on high-stakes cases where multiple jurisdictions overlap. After early practice in criminal and public law, he moved to Dubai in 2006 and joined Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy. Over nearly two decades, he has supervised hundreds of cases ranging from complex divorces and child custody disputes to banking and real estate conflicts.
His legal writing and commentary have been published in outlets such as The National, Khaleej Times, and international wire services. He has been invited to speak at conferences in Europe, Asi,a and Africa, where his insights into international family law have informed lawyers grappling with similar cross-border dilemmas. “Cross-border family disputes demand both a firm grasp of law and an understanding of how different cultures view the family unit,” Dr. Elhais has said.
Meeting the Demands of a Growing Expatriate Community
The UAE’s expatriate population, nearly 90 percent of the country’s residents, creates a distinct legal field. Issues such as multijurisdictional divorce, relocation of children, and the enforcement of foreign judgments are frequent flashpoints. Federal reforms have attempted to simplify these matters: in recent years, the government introduced laws that provide non-Muslim residents more clarity on divorce and inheritance rights and created procedures to recognize certain foreign court orders.
Over the past two decades, Dr. Elhais has received more than 70000 legal inquiries, but he decided to serve only 8000, as it has been found that he is selective with his clients and with the cases that he accepts to deal with. Their caseload includes high-net-worth individuals as well as families seeking guidance in crises. “Many of our clients arrive with little familiarity with local legal procedures,” Dr. Elhais explained. “Our role is to make those processes transparent and to help them navigate disputes that often span more than one country.”
According to Mrs. Awatif Shoqi, Owner and Manager of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy:
“We have seen cases where opposing parties competed to retain Dr. Hassan’s expertise first, simply to ensure that the other side would not be able to do so. This is a clear reflection of his distinguished reputation in the market. At the same time, it places on us as a firm the ongoing responsibility to serve our clients with the highest quality and professional standards, maintaining the trust and confidence they place in us for the future.”\
Recognition and Influence
Professional recognition has followed his practice. In 2016 he was named Legal Consultant of the Year by the Professional Sector Network, and he currently serves as co-chair of the Relocation of Children Committee at the International Academy of Family Lawyers. Chambers and Partners has consistently ranked him in Band 1 for high-net-worth family and matrimonial law in the UAE, an endorsement based on peer review and client feedback.
These accolades signal more than personal achievement. They reflect a shift in the UAE’s legal profession toward international standards and the capacity to handle cases that cross legal systems. They also illustrate the increasing expectation that legal consultants operate not only as advisers but as public educators through media commentary and legal discussions.
Legal Practice in a Time of Change
As the UAE continues to refine its legal framework, the nation’s practitioners must balance modernization with sensitivity to cases that cross cultural and national boundaries. Nowhere is this tension more visible than in family and criminal law – two fields that often reveal how legal systems, traditions, and personal lives intersect.
Dr. Hassan Elhais has built much of his practice at this intersection. His work covers family law disputes involving international divorce, child custody, and enforcement of foreign judgments, as well as criminal cases tied to extradition, money laundering, and cybercrime. Drawing on both civil and sharia-based laws, he has guided clients from diverse backgrounds through processes that can otherwise seem opaque. “Our goal is to provide a fair, transparent process, especially for clients who find themselves navigating a system that differs from their own,” Dr. Elhais said.
Recent reforms have amplified the need for such guidance. The UAE’s 2022 law governing non-Muslim family matters, followed by the 2024 Personal Status Law for Muslims, redefined areas such as custody, inheritance, and marital dissolution. At the same time, updates to cybercrime and anti-money laundering regulations have expanded the complexity of criminal defense, often involving international cooperation.
Within this shifting environment, Dr. Elhais’s background in both family and criminal law allows him to bridge gaps between domestic legislation and global legal norms. His career reflects how the UAE’s legal community continues to adapt, through precision, accessibility, and a measured understanding of how reforms affect people’s daily lives.
An Ongoing Role in the UAE’s Legal Story
Dr. Hassan Elhais’s journey reflects the intersection of the UAE’s economic ambitions and its diverse population. As the nation continues to attract foreign investment and residents, the demand for legal guidance that spans cultures and jurisdictions will only intensify. His work – anchored in academic rigor, international engagement and years of legal experience – shows how legal consultants are helping shape a more accessible and informed legal environment for expatriates living in one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
