Middle East

Fenwick Elliott LLP has extensive experience advising on major construction, infrastructure and energy projects in the Middle East. We have recently worked with our clients on projects in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Whilst many of the large-scale projects we advise on in the Middle East have contractual regimes governed by English law, we are also frequently engaged to advise on contracts which are governed by the law of the Arab Gulf States or third country laws. Our lawyers are familiar with the issues which commonly arise under the Gulf State Civil Codes on major projects. When the need for local law input arises, the firm has an extensive network of local counsel with whom we have worked previously and whose legal advice we trust.

Some recent examples of our work in the Middle East include:

Gas-fired power station 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.

Crude oil gathering centre, Kuwait
Advising a leading international oil and gas contractor on legal issues arising during the execution of a US$650 million contract for the construction of a crude oil gathering centre in Kuwait, including issues as to application of currency and commodity price fluctuation clauses.

Integrated security systems for oil and gas installations, Middle East
Advising a leading international technology company acting as EPC Contractor for the design, procurement and installation of a fully integrated security system for a Middle Eastern country’s national oil and gas production and processing facilities. Contract value approximately US$500 million.

Expressway project, Qatar
Acting for a contractor in an arbitration under the ICC Rules relating to the construction of the Doha Expressway. Amount in dispute approximately US$100million.

Gas train fractionation project, Kuwait
Advising a leading international oil and gas contractor on legal issues arising out of the cancellation of a US$450 million gas train project in Kuwait.

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. Claim amount approximately US$25 million.

Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
Acting for a Dubai-based contractor in an international arbitration under the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) rules in respect of a claim relating to part of a major development in Dubai under a bespoke contract.

Dubai World Central, Dubai
Advising a contractor on disputes arising out of a specialist works package on the DWC Project in Dubai, including advice in connection with arbitration proceedings and working in conjunction with local lawyers on related local court proceedings.

Power station project, Jordan
Acting for a major US consulting engineer in relation to disputes arising from the design of a gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Jordan. Advising (in conjunction with local lawyers) on Jordanian Court proceedings and advising on arbitration proceedings issued by a state owned power company.

Power station and desalination plant project, Saudi Arabia
Acting for an EPC contractor in a claim against a Saudi Arabian company on an IWPP Project in Saudi Arabia. We commenced arbitration proceedings in London under the UK Arbitration Act 1996. The claim successfully settled at an early stage.