Sally Kotb FCIArb

Sally's practice focuses on the resolution of both local and international commercial arbitration disputes across a broad spectrum of industry sectors, including construction, real estate, energy, distribution, M&A and shareholders' disputes. She also regularly acts as arbitrator under both ad-hoc and leading arbitral institutional rules, including the ICC, LCIA, DIAC, ArbitrateAD, CRCICA and the BCDR. Fluent in Arabic, Sally effectively bridges cultural gaps in complex international cases and is able to navigate high-stakes disputes with strategic insight and meticulous preparation.

Sally is experienced in providing strategic advice to clients on all contractual issues, including litigious risks and avoidance from a civil law perspective. Sally has extensive experience in drafting expert opinions on complex issues of UAE law and various civil law concepts in support of both international and domestic arbitrations. This is underpinned by her strong understanding of UAE laws and their application on various industry sectors owing to her civil law background and practice in the Middle East and Africa for the past 17 years. She also has particular experience in enforcement of foreign and domestic awards in the UAE.

Sally is also a registered trainer under the Dubai Legal Affairs Department (DLAD) training program, which aims to provide training and professional development to advocates and legal consultants in the Emirate of Dubai. Sally is equally a registered trainer with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) three-stage training program allowing aspiring arbitrators to navigate the various aspects of international arbitration proceedings.

• Acting on a multi-million Saudi Riyals shareholders’ dispute involving DIAC proceedings governed by Saudi law with parallel court proceedings held in Saudi Arabia and Dubai in respect to various criminal matters.
• Acting on a multi-million USD dispute arising from a service agreement involving DIFC court proceedings governed by UAE law.
• Acting for a government entity on a multi-million AED training program dispute under the ADCCAC Rules that has arisen between a leading service provider and a UAE military entity operating in the aviation sector.
• Acting for a Government entity in connection with a high value complex construction dispute with LCIA proceedings seated in London and associated proceedings in Cyprus and Russia.
• Acting for one of the leading international pharmaceutical companies on a multi-million dollar DIFC-LCIA proceedings in relation to IP rights pertaining to the technology and software for the use of PBM solutions.
• Advised on a multi-billion AED corporate and commercial dispute between heirs of shareholders in a group of companies in the medical and pharmaceutical sector under the ADCCAC Rules, conducted in Arabic, via a court appointed tribunal.
• Advised on a multi-million dollar dispute between a leading real estate developer and a group of leading investors in relation to dispute arising out of the performance of a shareholders agreement involving major real estate group of companies in the Gulf.
• Advised on a multi-million dispute between an Employer and Contractor in relation to a dispute arising out of a construction contract over the execution of works in a project in Dubai under the DIAC Rules.
• Advised on a multi-billion AED investment dispute involving leading global money transfer and foreign exchange companies worldwide under the DIAC Rules.
• Advised on a multi-million AED commercial construction dispute between contractor and sub-contractor for the execution of works for a project in Dubai.

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• Member of the Egyptian Bar Association (2006)
• Fellowship Diploma, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• Member of the Middle East Sub-Committee of the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge (ERA Pledge)
• Member of the Young Subcommittee of the ERA Pledge
• ICC UAE Delegate for the term 2024-2027
• Member of ArbitralWomen
• Registered Trainer with DLAD 
• Registered Trainer with DIAC