Job Description

One of a leading client in Dubai is largest Gaming Retailer is looking for Head of Legal & Compliance -GCC operations.

Location -Dubai

Key Responsibilities:

1. Legal & Regulatory Compliance (GCC-Wide)

Ensure comprehensive legal compliance across UAE, KSA, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, including but not limited to commercial, corporate, labor, tenancy, consumer protection, municipal, data protection, and e-commerce laws. Maintain legal entity status, including regular updates to commercial registers and Chamber of Commerce. Liaise with regulatory authorities for inspections, clarifications, or submissions. Prepare and submit reports and documentation as required by Ministries of Economy, Commerce, Culture, Labor, Municipality, and relevant civil defense and consumer protection departments. Specific interaction points:

UAE

: MOHRE, DED, Dubai Municipality, MCY, Civil Defense, Abu Dhabi and Dubai Courts

KSA

: Ministry of Commerce (MOC), Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development (MHRSD), Baladiya, Civil Defense, GOSI, MCIT, Najiz portal

Qatar

: Ministry of Commerce & Industry (MOCI), Ministry of Labour, Baladiya, Hukoomi portal, Civil Defense

Oman

: Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion (MOCIIP), Ministry of Labour, Muscat Municipality, Royal Oman Police for licensing

Bahrain

: Ministry of Industry & Commerce, Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA), eGov portal, Civil Defense

Kuwait

: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Kuwait Municipality, PAM (Public Authority for Manpower), Civil ID Authority

2. Licensing & Government Relations

Manage the end-to-end process of company trade license renewals, amendments, and registrations across all regions. Monitor expiry dates and proactively initiate renewals or updates for commercial licenses, MCY approvals, Civil Defense, Municipality registrations, and other regulatory permits. Oversee all obligations under systems such as:

Ejar

(KSA rental portal),

Tawtheeq

(Abu Dhabi),

Baladiya

(Municipal platforms across GCC),

Hassantuk

(UAE fire safety system),

Nafis

(UAE Emiratization portal),

GOSI

(KSA insurance portal),

Qiwa

(KSA HR platform), and other regional portals. Manage Public Notary submissions, attestations, legal translations, and POA filings.

3. Contract Management & Legal Drafting

Draft, review, and negotiate a wide array of commercial contracts including but not limited to: Retail and mall leases Franchise, agency, and distribution agreements Supplier and vendor contracts Service-level agreements (SLA) IT and software licensing agreements Insurance and brokerage contracts Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements Employment and consultancy contracts Sponsorship and side agreements Logistics, customs brokerage, and freight forwarding contracts Establish contract database and tracking system for expiry, renewal, and compliance alerts.

4. Document Control & Record Keeping

Establish a centralized repository of all legal, commercial, lease, and regulatory documents. Ensure data is securely stored, backed up, and easily accessible for internal departments and external auditors. Implement best practices for version control, document validation, and document lifecycle management.

5. Property & Lease Oversight

Manage legal and administrative aspects of all property agreements: retail stores, offices, warehouses, staff accommodations, and home offices. Coordinate with mall management and landlords for handovers, renewals, terminations, and disputes. Ensure compliance with civil defense, fire safety, pest control, structural maintenance, and insurance requirements per tenancy agreement. Oversee municipality and zoning approvals in each territory.

6. Intellectual Property (IP) Management

Register, renew, and protect company trademarks, brand logos, trade names, and patents across all GCC markets. Handle opposition, infringement, and licensing actions where necessary. Liaise with IP law firms and ensure record keeping of certificates and renewals.

7. Litigation & Legal Representation

Act as legal representative for the company in labor disputes, commercial litigation, civil claims, and arbitration matters. Coordinate with external counsel on filings, defense strategy, court appearances, and settlements. Attend government hearings, legal inspections, and compliance meetings as the authorized representative. Respond to legal notices and facilitate dispute resolutions with suppliers, landlords, or government bodies.

8. Insurance & Risk Mitigation

Maintain company's insurance portfolio, including: Property all-risk insurance Public liability insurance Workmen's compensation Product liability (if applicable) Ensure coverage meets contractual and legal obligations and conduct annual reviews with insurers. Align insurance coverage with local jurisdictional requirements (e.g., GOSI in KSA, MOL guidelines in Qatar, DHA/WPS in UAE).

9. Stakeholder & Department Liaison

Collaborate with departments (HR, Finance, Operations, Retail, IT) to ensure contracts, licenses, and legal obligations align with business needs. Guide internal teams on legal processes, documentation requirements, and risk exposures. Train and advise departments on regulatory changes, compliance updates, and best practices.

Key Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Policy, or equivalent field. Legal education is preferred but not mandatory. Minimum of 6 years experience in legal, licensing, or regulatory affairs, preferably within the retail, trading, or distribution sector in the GCC. Working knowledge of trade and labor laws, tenancy rules, intellectual property regulations, and corporate legal procedures across GCC countries.

Preferred Skills:

Excellent written and verbal communication; Arabic proficiency is an asset. Strong contract negotiation and drafting skills. Sound judgment with high accountability and discretion. Organized, detail-oriented, and tech-savvy with legal databases and compliance portals. Proactive, with a demonstrated ability to multitask and deliver under pressure.

This individual will serve as the sole owner of the legal and compliance vertical across the GCC operations. He/she will be expected to operate independently, uphold the company's legal standing, and ensure all entities and operations are fully compliant.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: AED18,000.00 - AED20,000.00 per month

Application Question(s):

Do you have a Bachelor degree in Business Administration ,Pubic Policy or equivalent field? Do you have minimum of 6 years experience in Legal,Licensing or regulatory affairs,preferably within the retail,trading,or distribution sector in the GCC? Do you have good working knowledge of trade & labor laws,tenancy rules, intellectual property regulations, and corporate legal procedures across GCC countries? Are you well versed with Contract Management & Legal Drafting?
Experience:

Legal ,licensing or regulatory affairs: 6 years (Required) retail,trading,distribution sector GCC: 6 years (Required) * trade & labor laws,tenancy : 4 years (Required)