Rania Tadros
Middle East Managing Partner
Rania brings over 25 years’ experience advising on contentious, non-contentious, and commercial matters across the global shipping, trade, and offshore sectors.
Middle East Managing Partner
Rania brings over 25 years’ experience advising on contentious, non-contentious, and commercial matters across the global shipping, trade, and offshore sectors.
Languages - English, Arabic
Jurisdictions - England & Wales, United Arab Emirates
With a strong track record of delivering commercially focused solutions, Rania works closely with clients to resolve their most complex challenges across the maritime industry. She is regularly instructed by senior stakeholders on complex, high-value, multi-jurisdictional disputes concerning wet and dry shipping matters, as well as advisory mandates requiring sector-specific insight.
Rania acts for shipowners, charterers, offshore service providers and insurers in arbitrations under LMAA, LCIA, SIAC, DIAC, and ICC rules, and in litigation before the English and UAE Courts, including the DIFC Courts. She also brings experience sitting as an arbitrator. Her portfolio spans charterparty and cargo disputes, shipbuilding and S&P contracts, pollution, collisions, groundings and fires.
Clients also turn to Rania for non-contentious support, including drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, drydocking frameworks and project documentation. Her litigation background and deep industry knowledge allow her to deliver proactive, commercially sound advice when negotiating and drafting such contracts.
Rania spent 15 years at a top London law firm before moving to Dubai in 2013, where she has practiced across the Middle East and held senior management roles for over a decade. She is also an active leader in the maritime community, serving as President of UAE branch of the Women in Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA UAE) and as a committee member of International Congress for Maritime Arbitrators.
LMAA Cases Arising from Sanctioned Trade Routes
Represented a logistics and shipping business in highly complex concurrent LMAA arbitrations against major global traders arising from charterparty issues within a complex contractual chain, triggered by trading restrictions following the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
$25M Charterparty Dispute for National Oil Company
Successfully represented a state-owned oil company in a US$25million dispute arising out of a charterparty termination. The client relied on Rania in making real time commercial decisions with significant financial consequences.
Gasoil Contamination Dispute
Represented the vessel, owners, charterers, and P&I insurers in an alleged contamination dispute involving 62MT of Gasoil valued at US$77 million, shipped from Taiwan to Malaysia via Australia, where it was detained.
Time Charterparty Dispute
Acted for owners in a charterparty arbitration over unpaid hire, extra costs and a US$5.4m settlement for alleged cargo damage. The case involves claims for indemnity and examines the impact of civil unrest in Bangladesh on liability, risk allocation and commercial decisions.
$132M Floating Crane Contract for Drydocks World
Advised Drydocks World Dubai on a US$132 million ship building contract for a 5000-metre sheerleg floating crane that it was purchasing from Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries.
Bespoke Charterparty Forms
Instructed by the logistics arm of a state-owned oil company to review and advise on various in/out charterparties under tight deadlines. Rania delivered clear, practical advice aligned with the client’s needs, ensuring smooth communication with the commercial team and prompt turnaround.
Offshore Vessel Construction Dispute
Represented the owners of an offshore service vessels based in Qatar on their disputes with a shipyard arising out of the termination of numerous construction contracts, to include oversight of the arbitration proceedings seated in Dubai (but under SCMA Rules) and mediation.
High-Profile Vessel Fire in UAE
Advised a world-renowned shipping business on a widely publicised incident involving a fire onboard its vessel in the UAE.
Rig Collision Litigation at Dubai Shipyard
Represented a UAE-based drilling rig owner in litigation proceedings before the UAE Courts following a collision with a container ship in a Dubai-based shipyard. The case explored issues of causation as well as responsibility for rig and vessels at the shipyard.
