Dr. Reyadh Al Kabban​

About Dr. Reyadh Al Kabban

Dr. Reyadh Al Kabban, an accomplished jurist and leading legal authority in the UAE, is the Founder and Managing Director of Al Kabban & Associates Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1993. Over three decades later, his vision and leadership have transformed the firm into one of Dubai’s most respected and long-standing legal practices, widely recognized for its integrity, strategic insight, and results-driven representation.

A respected Iraqi national, Dr. Al Kabban has built a career defined by excellence, combining deep academic expertise with practical experience as a lawyer, judge, arbitrator, and legal consultant. His reputation for delivering high quality, culturally sensitive, and solution oriented legal services continues to shape the firm’s philosophy and its standing as a leading UAE law firm.

Education & Academic Achievements

Dr. Al Kabban earned his LL.B. from Basra University (1970) and LL.M. in Public and Taxation Law from Cairo University (1974). He later obtained a Ph.D. in Maritime Law from Glasgow University (1985) and a Diploma in Forensic Medicine (1988).
His doctoral thesis, “The Effect of Deviation Occurring in the Course of a Maritime Voyage on the Liability of the Carrier,” remains a respected reference in international maritime legal literature.

A strong believer in continued academic exchange, Dr. Al Kabban has served as a Visiting Research Fellow at leading universities including Glasgow University, Southampton University (Institute of Maritime Law), and the School of Oriental and African Studies – University of London.

Career & Legal Experience

Admitted to practice in 1971, Dr. Al Kabban’s distinguished career spans over five decades of service to the law. His early work as Advocate and Legal Consultant with the Iraqi Oil Company (1975 - 1977) and subsequent appointment as Judge at the Court of First Instance in Basra (1979 - 1989) laid the foundation for his strong judicial and analytical acumen.

After relocating to the UAE in 1989, he joined Bujassem & Al Maliki Advocates & Legal Consultants before founding his own firm in 1993. Since then, he has led Al Kabban & Associates through decades of successful representation for both government and private sector clients across a wide range of legal disciplines including commercial law, insurance, real estate, criminal law, corporate law, and dispute resolution.

Dr. Al Kabban has acted as lead counsel in numerous criminal, civil, and commercial cases, achieving major recoveries and favorable judgments on behalf of his clients. His dual experience as a former judge and seasoned advocate provides him with unique insight into both courtroom and arbitration strategies, making him one of the UAE’s most trusted legal figures.

Arbitration & Dispute Resolution

An authority in UAE and international arbitration, Dr. Al Kabban has personally handled and presided over more than two hundred arbitration cases conducted in both English and Arabic. Known for his balanced approach and deep understanding of procedural fairness, he is widely regarded as a respected arbitrator and assertive litigator.

He is registered with and actively involved in leading arbitral institutions including:

• Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC)
  
• Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
  
• Sharjah International Commercial Arbitration Centre
  
• Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre (ArbitrateAD)
  
• Ajman Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre
  
• GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre (Bahrain)
  
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
  
• International Bar Association (IBA)
  

Publications & Thought Leadership

Dr. Al Kabban has contributed several influential articles to international legal journals, including:

• “The Limitation of the Maritime Carrier under the Iraqi Transport Law” — Maritime Law and Commerce Journal, Vol. 19 No. 3 (1988)
  
• “The Liability of the Maritime Carrier under the Iraqi Transport Law” — Arab Quarterly Journal, Vol. 3 (1988)
  
• “Recovery of Loss or Damage to Goods and Delay in Delivery in Admiralty Cases under Iraqi Jurisprudence” — Arab Law Quarterly Journal (1989)
  

His scholarly work and research continue to be referenced in both academic and professional settings worldwide.

Vision & Leadership

Under Dr. Al Kabban’s guidance, Al Kabban & Associates has evolved into a multidisciplinary UAE law firm with a reputation for delivering clear, strategic, and effective legal solutions. His dedication to ethics, excellence, and client service remains the cornerstone of the firm’s operations.

“As a leading law firm, we are constantly looking at ways to enhance and improve our services - a commitment that has made Al Kabban & Associates one of Dubai’s most trusted names in law. Since 1993, we have built a strong presence within the UAE’s legal landscape and will continue to do so well into the future.”
— Dr. Reyadh Al Kabban