(Associate) Legal Counsel for UAE & Middle East | based in Dubai, fluent Arabic

About this role

Why SoftwareOne?

SoftwareOne is a global software and cloud solutions provider and distributor, powered by around 12,000 people across more than 70 countries. But what really makes us SoftwareOne is our people: curious minds, different perspectives, and talented teams working together to solve real challenges and create meaningful impact. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to grow, explore new possibilities, and build a career that’s uniquely yours, while helping shape what’s next in technology.

The role

• Ready to be the trusted legal advisor for a growing business in the UAE?
• Are you looking for an opportunity where you can take genuine ownership while continuing to develop your legal career?
• Do you enjoy working independently while collaborating with experienced colleagues across multiple countries?

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Practical Information:

Location: Dubai | Scope: Middle East | Work arrangement: Hybrid | Contract type: Full-time | Reporting to: Group Legal Department | Language requirements: Fluent Arabic and English

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In this newly created role, you will be the only Legal Counsel physically based in the UAE and the primary day-to-day legal contact for the local business. Your manager and the wider Legal team are located across EMEA, so you must be comfortable working independently, making sound initial assessments, taking accountability for follow-through, and proactively involving colleagues when a matter requires specialist expertise or escalation. This role is designed for an early-career talent who already has meaningful practical legal experience and is ready to step into a visible in-house counsel position. While this is not a senior role, it is also not an entry-level opportunity. We are looking for someone who is ready to take ownership, build trusted relationships with stakeholders, and contribute to the continued success of our UAE business.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the primary day-to-day legal contact for SoftwareOne's UAE business. 
• Review, draft, and negotiate a range of commercial agreements, including software licensing, IT services, managed services, supplier, customer, partner, and framework contracts.
• Provide practical, commercially focused legal guidance to internal business stakeholders.
• Manage local legal requests from initial assessment through completion or escalation.
• Support regulatory, authority-related, and dispute matters while coordinating with external legal counsel where required.
• Maintain legal documentation, contract records, and follow-up activities to ensure effective matter management.

What we need to see from you

• A completed law degree and strong knowledge of UAE legal principles and procedures.
• Professional fluency in both Arabic and English, with confidence communicating legal matters in both languages.
• Admitted, licensed, registered, eligible to practise law in the UAE, or undertaking relevant UAE advocacy/ bar training
• Practical experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements (Nice-To-Have: Experience with software licensing, technology or IT-services agreements)
• The ability to work independently, manage priorities, and take ownership of legal matters.
• Sound judgement regarding when to resolve issues locally and when to seek specialist support or escalation.
• An interest in developing a long-term career in-house and growing expertise across commercial, regulatory, technology, and data protection matters.

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What we offer

• Build something new: Help establish and shape a newly created, locally based Legal position in the Middle East.
• Develop broad in-house expertise: Work across commercial contracting, software and IT services, data protection, public-sector matters and regional legal topics.
• Combine local impact with international collaboration: Take responsibility in Dubai while learning from and contributing to an experienced, cross-border Legal team.
• Grow with the role: Bring strong legal foundations, curiosity and initiative, then deepen your expertise in technology-related legal work within an international business.
• A company that invests: heavily in talent and training, offering continuous learning, upskilling and a supportive culture that encourages taking ownership and building long‑term expertise.
• and many more... 

Job Function

Legal & Compliance Accommodations

SoftwareOne welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and abilities to apply. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process, email us at [email protected].    Please include the role for which you are applying and your country location. Someone from our organization that is not part of the decision-making process will be in touch to discuss your specific needs and we will make every effort to accommodate you. Any information shared will be stored securely and treated in the strictest of confidence in line with GDPR.  

At SoftwareOne, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.  Additionally, we encourage experienced individuals that have taken an intentional career break and are now prepared to return to work to explore our SOAR program.