Mr. Saladin Adel Aljurf

Saladin Aljurf, senior associate within the firm’s Regional Real Estate and Hospitality Practice, has nearly 20 years of real estate experience in the UAE and the broader GCC, covering transactional, advisory, and legislative matters on the largest real estate developments in the region. He advised both the Governments of Dubai and Sharjah on draft real estate legislation and documentation, including matters related to master communities, freehold ownership, strata title, and homeowners’ association formation and regulation. He advised one of Dubai’s largest master developers on its multibillion-dollar potential REIT and IPO, including issues of valuation and ownership of infrastructure assets and cross-listing, culminating in the establishment of the government regulator for service charges. He has handled some of the largest hotel transactions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, representing owners, franchisors, and operators. In prior in-house experience, Saladin played a key role in making competitive again one developer’s underperforming retail and mall assets through a revamped leasing strategy and managed a portfolio of mixed-use communities in the GCC and Levant.

Experience

Representative Matters

• Advised both the Governments of Dubai and Sharjah on draft real estate legislation and documentation, including matters related to master communities, freehold ownership, strata title, and homeowners’ association formation and regulation, which were ultimately ratified and enacted.°

• Advised one of Dubai’s largest master developers on its multibillion-dollar potential REIT and IPO, including issues of valuation and ownership of infrastructure assets and cross-listing, culminating in the establishment of Dubai government regulator for the assessment and collection of service charges.°

• Advised the first private marina in Dubai on novel ownership rights and interests in berths and other marina property.°

• Lead transaction for the combined sale of hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai between local two UAE conglomerates.°

• Negotiated the hotel management, franchise, and license agreements for several hotel properties in Dubai one behalf of a leading global hotel operator.°

• Handled some of the largest hotel transactions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, representing owners, franchisors, and operators.°

• Negotiated the purchase of a branded hotel apartment complex in Dubai on behalf of a prominent Saudi investment company.°

• Devised plan for strata ownership scheme for Dubai hotel apartment on behalf of one of largest UAE hotel groups.°

• Played a key role in making competitive again one Dubai developer’s underperforming retail and mall assets through a revamped leasing strategy.°

• Managed a portfolio of mixed-use (i.e., residential, hotel, and retail) communities in the UAE, Lebanon, and Oman.°

°The above representations were handled by Mr. Aljurf prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig Limited.

In-House Experience

• Seconded Legal Consultant, NEOM, 2023-2024

• Senior Legal Counsel, Communities, Majid AL Futtaim, 2014-2015

• Senior Legal Counsel, Nakheel, 2013-2014

Teaching Experience

• Assistant Professor of Business Law and Ethics, American University of Sharjah, 2009-2013

Recognition & Leadership

Professional & Community Involvement

• Member, Virginia State Bar Association, 1998-Present

• Member, District of Columbia Bar Association, 2003-Present

• Member, American Bar Association, 1998-Present