Financial Regulatory Lawyer

PQE: 3–7 years (flexible depending on experience)

The Opportunity

A leading international law firm is seeking a Financial Regulatory Solicitor to join its growing Financial Services practice in Dubai. This is an excellent opportunity to work in a dynamic and fast-growing market, advising a broad range of financial institutions and fintech businesses on complex regulatory matters across the UAE and wider Middle East.

You will work closely with senior partners and clients on high-quality advisory work, with significant responsibility, client exposure and opportunities for career progression.

The team advises a diverse portfolio of clients, including local and international banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, payment service providers, fintech and technology companies, government entities, virtual asset service providers (VASPs), custodians, investment advisers and private wealth businesses.

The practice supports clients across the full regulatory lifecycle, from market entry and licensing through to ongoing compliance, product development and cross-border expansion. The role offers significant client exposure, responsibility for managing work streams, and the opportunity to play an active role in the continued growth of the financial services offering in the region. Given the close working relationship with the Partner, this is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and proactive lawyer to develop their skill set in a fast-growing market and to build strong, long-term client relationships.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, you will be involved in a broad range of regulatory advisory work, including:

• Advising on regulatory licensing and authorisation applications with UAE and Saudi regulators (including the DFSA, FSRA, CBUAE, SCA/CMA and relevant KSA regulators), as well as variations of permissions and regulatory change projects.
• Advising clients on ongoing conduct of business, governance and compliance requirements, including client onboarding, marketing and financial promotions, suitability and disclosure obligations.
• Supporting clients on outsourcing and third-party arrangements, including regulatory assessments, drafting and reviewing outsourcing agreements, and advising on regulatory notifications and approvals.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating regulatory-facing and client documentation, including terms and conditions, policies and procedures, and disclosures.
• Advising on new product launches, business model changes and innovative offerings (including fintech, payments and digital assets) from a regulatory structuring and compliance perspective.
• Advising on cross-border regulatory matters, including the provision of services into the UAE and Saudi Arabia from overseas and interaction with extraterritorial regulatory regimes.
• Preparing thought leadership materials and delivering client training on a range of regulatory topics.

About You

• Qualification as an England & Wales lawyer, with strong post-qualification experience gained and retained at a leading international law firm. PQE is expected to be between 3–7 years.
• Demonstrable experience advising on financial services regulatory matters relevant to banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, payment services, fintech or other regulated financial institutions.
• A strong understanding of regulatory frameworks in the UAE and/or Saudi Arabia, or the ability to translate experience from other major financial centres (such as the UK) into the regional context.
• Experience managing matters with a high degree of autonomy, including direct client interaction, coordinating work streams and supervising junior team members.
• Excellent drafting skills and the ability to deliver clear, practical and commercially focused regulatory advice.
• A proactive, collaborative and detail-driven approach, with a genuine interest in building a long-term practice in the Middle East financial services market.
• Willingness to participate in business development activities, including attending conferences and events and contributing to thought leadership initiatives.