Saif Almobideen
Partner
Saif is a bilingual litigator and arbitrator, with a strong track record in providing pragmatic legal solutions in high-profile shipping and cross-border disputes.
Partner
Saif is a bilingual litigator and arbitrator, with a strong track record in providing pragmatic legal solutions in high-profile shipping and cross-border disputes.
Languages - Arabic, English
Jurisdictions - Jordan, United Arab Emirates
Saif is a Dubai-based bilingual litigation Partner and arbitrator. He represents shipowners, managers, P&I Clubs, insurers, logistics providers and high-net-worth individuals. He supports clients across the Middle East region on shipping, logistics, insurance, commercial, real estate, and cross-border disputes.
Saif handles high-stakes shipping “wet” claims including collisions, groundings, fires, explosions, pier damage and oil pollution, and “dry” claims, including charterparty disputes, sanctions and cargo claims. Saif also acts for crew members on personal injury, fatalities and repatriation.
Beyond shipping, he advises on logistics and freight forwarding disputes, warehouse fires, customs and supply chain issues, cross-border litigation, asset tracing, fraud, enforcement of foreign arbitral awards and judgments, agency disputes, marine insurance coverage claims, real estate litigation, and sales and purchase transactions.
Known for his pragmatic and commercial approach, Saif has achieved precedent-setting results including establishing one of the first limitation funds in the Middle East, advancing unjust enrichment claims before the Dubai Court of Cassation and applying English law in Dubai Courts to recover legal costs. He is also appointed as an arbitrator by the Dubai Court of Appeal and DIAC.
Clients value his strategic insight, practical guidance, and collaborative style in resolving complex, high-value disputes efficiently and effectively.
Oil pollution incident in Aqaba
Advised P&I insurers and their assureds in investigating a major oil pollution incident in the port of Aqaba and successfully setting up, for the first time in the history of Jordan, a limitation fund under the local laws and the Bunker Convention 2001.
Landmark insurance coverage dispute
Successfully represented leading bulk shipowners in a major UAE insurance coverage claim, where IDSRC and Dubai Courts applied English law principles, enabling recovery of legal fees, economic loss, loss of earnings, and consequential damages in a Constructive Total Loss claim.
Cross-border trade finance dispute
Advised an Asian capital fund in handling an intricate cross-border trade finance dispute for its investment and asset management division, spanning three jurisdictions across Canada, Singapore and the UAE. Saif advised on Dubai Court Proceedings, with the dispute claims exceeding AED275 million.
Crisis management - major fire incidents
Acted on major regional ship fire incidents, including M.V. Maersk Honam, M.V. Maersk Frankfurt, MSC Rita, MSC PATNAREE, and M.V. Xpress Pearl, advising clients on cargo claims, General Average, and disposal of hazardous materials under the Basel Convention and local regulations.
Abandoned crew representation
Regularly instructed by the International Transport Workers' Federation to represent abandoned crew members in the region, including the UAE and Kuwait, to pursue claims for wages, defend criminal proceedings and liaise with various authorities to repatriate the crew.
Freight forwarding and logistics agreements
Assisted a UAE-based freight forwarding subsidiary of a prominent UAE conglomerate in drafting a full suite of logistics agreements, including comprehensive logistics, forwarding, transportation, warehousing, distribution, agency agreements, and HAWB/MAWB documents, covering the contractual process end-to-end.
International auction house disputes
Advising an international auction house in connection with high-value disputes arising from the sale of luxury assets, including rare timepieces and manuscripts.
Personal injuries and fatal incidents
Representing various shipowners, P&I Clubs and crew members in connection with personal injury and fatal incident at ports in the UAE. The matters included defending the vessel’s masters and key crew members in criminal and civil proceedings.
Enforcement of a US$320 million New York judgment
Enforcement of a US$320 million New York judgment before the onshore courts in the UAE against the debtor's assets, affiliates, and subsidiaries, after using the DIFC Court as a conduit jurisdiction.
Demurrage dispute
Representing shipowners in a charterparty dispute concerning demurrage and enforcement of lien on cargo shipped on board. Saif led the team in advising on precautionary measures before the UAE Courts and ad hoc arbitration in London.
