Construction Contract Lawyer in Dubai

A construction contract decides who carries the risk long before any dispute arises. Getting the drafting right at the outset — on price, programme, variations, and liability — is the cheapest way to avoid a costly claim later.

Most construction projects in the UAE are built on standard forms — FIDIC Red, Yellow, or Silver Book, or bespoke employer-drafted terms — but standard forms are rarely used unamended. Special conditions routinely shift risk on delay, defects, indemnities, and payment away from the default position, and those amendments are where the real exposure sits.

We work through the contract clause by clause: price mechanism and payment terms, extension of time and liquidated damages provisions, variation and claims procedures, defects liability and decennial obligations, termination rights, and dispute resolution. Each is checked against how it will actually play out on site, not just how it reads on paper.

We act for employers, developers, main contractors, and subcontractors on new contracts, contract amendments, and back-to-back subcontract drafting, aiming for terms that are enforceable, balanced, and administrable once the project is underway.

How We Handle Construction Contracts

1. Scope and Risk Profile ReviewWe start by understanding the project — value, programme, procurement route, and which party is expected to carry which risks — before looking at the contract wording itself.
2. Clause-by-Clause ReviewWe go through the draft contract in detail, flagging clauses on price, time, variations, defects, indemnities, and termination that create disproportionate or unclear exposure.
3. Negotiation StrategyWe identify which points are worth pushing on commercially and which are standard market terms, so negotiation focuses on the clauses that actually matter.
4. Drafting and AmendmentsWe draft or amend the special conditions, schedules, and appendices to reflect the agreed position clearly, avoiding ambiguity that could be exploited later.
5. Back-to-Back AlignmentFor subcontracts, we check alignment against the main contract so that risk isn't inadvertently retained at subcontractor level while being passed through at main contract level, or vice versa.
6. Execution and Handover AdviceOnce terms are agreed, we advise on execution formalities and flag the contractual notices and deadlines that will matter once the project is running.

When to Bring in a Construction Contract Lawyer

• You've received a draft construction contract or subcontract and need it reviewed before signing.
• You're preparing to issue a contract to bidders and want the risk allocation to reflect your actual project needs.
• A contract renewal, extension, or amendment is being negotiated and the terms need updating.
• You're unsure whether a subcontract properly passes through — or inadvertently retains — risk that sits with the main contract.
• Standard form contract language (FIDIC or otherwise) has been heavily amended and you need to understand what those amendments actually change.
• A dispute hasn't happened yet, but you want to understand your exposure under a contract you've already signed.

Services We Provide

• Drafting and reviewing FIDIC-based and bespoke construction contracts
• Risk allocation review on price, time, and liability clauses
• Contract negotiation on behalf of employers and contractors
• Back-to-back subcontract drafting and alignment checks
• Special conditions and schedule drafting
• Contract amendment and variation agreement drafting
• Pre-signature exposure assessment on existing draft contracts

Frequently Asked Questions