Dr. Ali Abusedra
Mediterranean Basin, Middle East, and Gulf Initiative
Dr. Ali Abusedra is a pioneer in the field of law and has played a prominent role in leading international businesses and projects. He advises and provides services on legal, negotiation and strategic matters to governments, organizations, institutions, bodies and individuals alike.
Dr. Abusedra graduated from the Faculty of Law in Benghazi in 1977 and worked as a legal advisor to petrochemicals affiliated to the Ministry of Oil in Libya. He holds a Diploma in International Organizations, a Master of International Law and a PhD in International Economics Law from the University of Hull in the United Kingdom, where he now provides research expertise in international investment law as a visiting professor.
Dr. Abusedra has provided services to many countries and governments, including the Governments of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, China, Dubai, Qatar, Vietnam, and the British Foreign Office. Dr. Abusedra has also advised many governmental bodies and institutions, including the Abu Dhabi Presidential Palace, Abu Dhabi Ministry of Economy, Qatar Cabinet Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Palm Island, Dubai Customs, Ajman University, and Abu Dhabi Higher Economic Zones Corporation.
Dr. Abusedra has provided advisory services to the Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, and Chairman of the Qatar Investment Authority. He was twice appointed Chairman of the Libyan Investment Corporation, but withdrew from consideration. Abusedra also conducts specialized courses in international law for sovereign portfolios and participates in the formation of international standards which govern these portfolios. He has special relations with the largest international portfolios in the world.
Dr. Abusedra has participated in several high profile negotiations, including: UAE negotiation with the White House on free trade agreements between the UAE and United States; negotiation of the oil and gas sharing agreements between Sharjah and Ajman; and negotiation with the International Criminal Court on the case of lawyers detained in Libya who were sent by the ICC. Dr. Abusedra provides consultations to States on issues of dispute before the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
Dr. Abusedra consults clients on cases before international arbitration bodies. He has also worked in the field as an arbitrator and as head of the arbitration tribunal at the Islamic Arbitration Center in Dubai and as a consultant for his clients before Abu Dhabi Arbitration Center.
Dr. Abusedra is the co-Founder of the London Foundation for International Law, in partnership with Professor Surya P. Subedi. He has worked on the legal aspects of many major projects, including the Presidential Palace; the Palm Island Project, Ducam Project, Hamriya Port, and Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai; the Arbitration Center in Ajman.
Dr. Abusedra has also worked in cooperation with multiple international law firms as a legal advisor and senior consultant, including Dentons, Orick & Company and Withersworldwide. He has taken over the legal files of several of the largest projects of real estate development companies in the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Morocco and Syria.
Dr. Ali Abusedra specializes in international laws governing sovereign portfolios as well as special laws, cyber law, international arbitration and international investment law. He is currently involved in setting international blockchain standards and establishing the Smart Law Firm Group.
Dr. Abusedra has participated in the development of strategic plans from a legal standpoint. He aided in the development of the strategic plan for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the strategic plan of the State of Qatar. In the late 1990s, he drew attention to the importance of legal files related to sport. He is now raising awareness to the development of cyber law and laws related to blockchain.
Dr. Abu Sedra has contributed to the drafting of many legislations, such as the UAE Arbitration Law, the UAE Real Estate Development Law, the UAE Consumer Protection Act and the Commercial Companies Law and the Law of Establishing the Specialized Economic Zone in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He has been the Director of the Department of Legislative Development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for seven years and the legal adviser to Dubai Port Authority, the Government of Ajman and the Council of Ministers in the State of Qatar and in many large real estate companies.
Dr. Abusedra provides training in real estate development, international investments, sovereign portfolios, arbitration, management of legal offices, drafting of legislations and strategic plans for the strategies of countries and enterprise files as well as commercial projects. He also works with a team of international trainers to provide training courses for senior management within certain countries’ governments.