Dentons, a global law firm and the first international law firm to establish a presence in the UAE, is celebrating 50 years in the country this month.

The celebration of half a century’s worth of service to the Emirates began today with a roundtable at Dentons’ Dubai office, hosted by Paul Jarvis - the firm's Middle East managing partner, Alastair Young - Dubai Office managing partner, Mhairi Main Garcia - partner, Projects & Energy, and Ziad Saad - partner, Corporate & Commercial.

They discussed Dentons’ rich history and outlook, highlighting the firm’s growth here in the Emirates and its commitment to supporting the continued development of the UAE’s legal framework and economy.

“Building a nation all begins with having a vision. As we look back 50 years, we can admire how far the United Arab Emirates has come and be proud of the part Dentons has played in its success through many of its key milestones. As a law firm, we are also forward looking and already we see the pillars and foundation for a thriving nation being set in place for the next 50 years and beyond,” said Paul Jarvis, Middle East managing partner at Dentons.

In 1969, Dentons' predecessor firm Fox & Gibbons first established an office in Dubai, having opened its first UAE office in Abu Dhabi in 1968. These offices marked the beginning of 50 years in the UAE, paving the way for Dentons to facilitate Middle Eastern and international business from the heart of the Emirates.

The firm was subsequently involved in landmark events in the UAE’s history, with Dentons’ lawyers acting as the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan’s legal counsel and helping to draft the treaty that united the Emirates.

Other projects Dentons was involved in include the establishment of the Hilton Al Ain, one of the Emirates’ oldest hotels, and other major construction projects such as the Dubai World Trade Centre, which was the first sky scraper in the Arab World, and Abu Dhabi International Airport in 1982. Dentons also acted for Emirates Airlines on its establishment in 1985.

In the 1990s, once Islamic Banking started to take shape, and with the UAE playing a central role, Dentons worked with many pioneering banks including the Dubai Islamic Bank and the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, helping to drive a new era of economic prosperity through the development of a world-class financial services industry. Even after the global financial crisis, the UAE has continued to drive progress through initiatives such as the Atlantis hotel which again saw Dentons involved in delivering a global landmark.

Alastair Young said: “Going back through Dentons' history becomes quite a lesson in the UAE’s history as well. You look back at all these projects and even the founding treaty that we played a role in and it really is the most incredible story. Even after the financial crisis of 2008, the UAE was determined to come back stronger than ever and Dentons has also worked towards this mutual goal.

“Today we have over 125 legal staff in the Middle East with our team continuing to grow. And like the nation, we aim to foster creativity, innovation and collaboration – continuously challenging the norm and growing in new ways, overcoming the unexpected and staying prepared no matter what.” – TradeArabia News Service