Ashraf Sayed

United Arab Emirates

Hadef & Partners LLC
Level 5, Building 3, Emaar Square
Downtown Dubai,
P.O. Box 37172, Dubai, UAE

Tel: +971 4429 2999

Email: a.sayed@hadefpartners.com
Web: www.hadefpartners.com

Professional Biography

Ashraf has been constantly ranked as a tier 1 UAE Real Estate Practice by leading legal publications. Having been in the UAE for over 20 years, Ashraf is widely recognized in the industry and legal directories as a market leader advising on complex real estate, development, and hospitality matters.

Ashraf advises on a range of real estate matters, including real estate development, commercial leasing, hospitality, and branded residences. He advises on contentious as well as transactional matters including sale and purchase of high value real estate, joint ventures, property management arrangements, real estate finance, property litigation, master communities, corporate structuring and all aspects of real estate development from project initiation and site acquisition, to post-project completion and management. Ashraf represents a variety of clients including government entities, hotel operators, master developers, UHNW and HNW Individuals and financial institutions.

Prior to joining Hadef & Partners, Ashraf worked for a leading international law firm in London. He completed his LLB at Brunel University and the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law, in the UK, before qualifying as an English Solicitor. Ashraf is fluent in English, Hindi and Urdu.

Representative Experience

  • Advising Reeva Realty, part of RSG Group of Companies on their flagship mixed-use hotel and branded residences development project in Dubai under the brand name ‘Fairmont’.
  • Acting for Aqua Real Estate Development, a leading UAE real estate developer, for all of its real estate projects in the UAE. Aqua has developed over 6,000,000 sqft of GLA and 10,000 commercial, residential, retail and hotel units in the UAE.
  • Acting for Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), an Abu Dhabi government entity with one of the largest land banks in Abu Dhabi on a range of corporate and real estate matters.
  • Advising Bulldozer Group, a leading hospitality group specializing in bringing internationally renowned luxury restaurant brands to Dubai on commercial leasing matters.
  • Acting for Discovery Land Company, one of the world’s leading luxury golf real estate developers for its first project in the Middle East – an ultra luxury villa development with a world-class 18-hole golf course and related amenities.

Hadef & Partners is a leading law firm in the UAE’s real estate sector, providing comprehensive legal services to clients across the entire property lifecycle. With a team of experienced real estate lawyers boasting over 45 years of combined UAE-specific expertise, the firm has advised on projects with a total value exceeding AED 100 billion.

Our client base includes regional and international developers, investors, financial institutions, UHNWIs and HNWIs, investment funds, brand operators, retailers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and governmental and semi- governmental entities. The firm’s Real Estate team offers strategic advice on project and corporate structuring, land and real estate acquisition, asset management, disposals, and leasing, catering to a wide range of industries, including tourism, leisure, utilities, energy, infrastructure, development, hospitality, and education.

Hadef & Partners has extensive experience in the establishment of mixed-use developments, industrial projects, major / mega projects, infrastructure, residential and commercial developments, and branded residences projects. The firm’s close working relationships with governmental authorities and primary developers in the region enable its lawyers to provide valuable local knowledge and insights into existing and planned real estate laws, regulations, and market practices. This expertise allows Hadef & Partners to offer tailored solutions to clients, navigating the complex legal landscape of the UAE’s real estate market.

In addition to its transactional work, Hadef & Partners has considerable experience in handling a broad range of real estate disputes. The firm’s market-leading dispute resolution practice, which has rights of audience in the UAE courts and a dedicated team for arbitration proceedings in UAE arbitration centres, works alongside specialist rent committee advisors to provide comprehensive support to clients facing real estate disputes. Hadef & Partners’ lawyers are well-versed in the practical impact of federal and local laws affecting real estate matters across all Emirates of the UAE, ensuring that clients receive informed and effective representation in dispute resolution matters

Hadef & Partners is one of the United Arab Emirates’ leading independent law firms, known for its deep local roots, international expertise, and commitment to delivering high-quality legal services. Established in 1980, the firm operates from offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, providing clients with comprehensive legal support across the UAE and the wider Middle East region.

The firm advises government entities, multinational corporations, financial institutions, and family businesses across a broad range of practice areas, including corporate and commercial law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, dispute resolution, real estate, construction, employment, and intellectual property. Hadef & Partners is particularly recognised for its strength in UAE law and its ability to provide pragmatic, commercially focused advice in both local and cross-border matters.

With a team of bilingual lawyers qualified in multiple jurisdictions, Hadef & Partners combines international standards of practice with a deep understanding of regional legal frameworks and business culture. The firm’s long-standing reputation, client-focused approach, and commitment to excellence have made it a trusted advisor to clients seeking strategic, effective, and locally grounded legal solutions in the UAE.