Horizons & Co Law Firm UAE: Worth Hiring?

Horizons & Co Law Firm: What You Should Know Before Hiring Them

If you're scoping out UAE counsel for litigation, arbitration, or corporate work, Horizons & Co Law Firm shows up on most shortlists. Here's a straight read on who they are, what they do, and whether they fit your matter.

Quick answer

Horizons & Co Law Firm is one of the older UAE-headquartered full-service firms, founded in 1999 by Mohamed Al Marri. They're licensed to appear before all UAE courts, including the Court of Cassation, and run offices in Dubai (head office), Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. Practice areas span litigation, arbitration, corporate/M&A, real estate, construction, banking, and IP. They're independently ranked by Chambers Global and Legal 500 in dispute resolution. Fees are mid-to-upper market — expect AED 1,500–3,500 per hour for senior partners, less for associates.

Who they are and what they actually do

Horizons & Co operates as a UAE national firm, which matters more than people realise. Only Emirati-licensed advocates can plead before onshore UAE courts in Arabic. Many international firms in Dubai cannot do that directly — they refer out or partner with a local firm. Horizons handles it in-house.

The head office sits in Index Tower, DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre). They also have an Abu Dhabi office on Al Maryah Island and a Sharjah presence. The founder, Mohamed Al Marri, is still active and is a registered arbitrator with the DIAC (Dubai International Arbitration Centre) and ADCCAC panels.^[1]

Core practice strengths, based on independent rankings:

• Dispute resolution — onshore UAE litigation through all three tiers (First Instance, Appeal, Cassation), plus DIFC Courts and ADGM Courts work.
• Arbitration — DIAC, ICC, LCIA, and ad-hoc. They've handled construction and shareholder disputes in the AED 50m+ range.
• Corporate, M&A, and commercial — including free zone setups, JVs, and shareholder agreements.
• Real estate and construction — RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Agency) disputes, off-plan claims, FIDIC contracts.
• Banking, finance, and IP — solid but not their headline practice.

Legal 500 ranks them in dispute resolution in the UAE, and Chambers Global has listed them in dispute resolution and general business law tiers in recent editions.^[2][3] Take rankings with the usual pinch of salt — they correlate with quality but they're not gospel.

How much they cost and how they bill

Honestly, this is where most clients want a straight number and no one gives one. Here's the real range based on market practice for firms in this tier:

Indicative fees (2024 market): - Senior partner: AED 2,000–3,500/hour - Senior associate: AED 1,200–1,800/hour - Associate: AED 700–1,200/hour - Fixed-fee corporate setup: AED 15,000–40,000 depending on structure - Litigation retainer: typically AED 25,000–75,000 upfront for a Court of First Instance matter, plus success fees in some cases

They'll quote in AED or USD depending on the client. For litigation, expect court fees on top — onshore civil claims attract a court fee of 6% of the claim value, capped at AED 40,000 under Dubai Courts' fee schedule (Cabinet Decision No. 57 of 2018 and Dubai's implementing rules).^[4]

Most clients get the engagement letter wrong by skimming it. Read the scope clause, the disbursements clause, and the termination clause. If you're funding a dispute, ask explicitly about contingency or success-fee arrangements — these are permitted in the UAE within limits but must be documented properly under Federal Law No. 23 of 1991 on Advocacy (as amended) and Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2022, which updated the legal profession framework.^[5]

When they're the right fit — and when they're not

Good fit if:

• You need a UAE-licensed advocate for onshore court work, especially in Arabic
• Your matter involves Dubai or Abu Dhabi real estate, construction, or shareholder disputes
• You want a UAE national firm rather than an international branch office
• You're a mid-to-large corporate or a high-net-worth individual comfortable with mid-upper market fees

Probably not the right fit if:

• You need a low-cost will, simple ejari dispute, or small-claims advice — you're overpaying for the brand
• Your matter is purely DIFC or ADGM common-law and you want a Magic Circle firm with that single focus
• You need cross-border tax structuring at the level of a Big Four legal arm
• You're price-sensitive and the matter is under AED 100,000 in value

For smaller civil disputes, you'll often get better value from a boutique. For complex onshore litigation or arbitration with real money on the line, the bench strength here is genuinely useful. If you want to compare options, browse our civil law guides before committing to any firm.

How to engage them (practical steps)

Contact is straightforward — they have a website, LinkedIn, and a Dubai reception desk. Initial calls are usually free but capped at 20–30 minutes. Bring:

1. A one-page summary of your matter
2. Key contracts and correspondence
3. Any prior legal opinions
4. A realistic budget range

They'll usually respond within 2–3 business days with a conflict check and a fee proposal. If they conflict out (common in tight UAE markets where they may already act for the other side or a related entity), ask for a referral — UAE firms are generally collegial about this.

Before signing, do three things. Verify the lead partner's licence on the relevant emirate's legal affairs department register — Dubai's is the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department.^[6] Confirm the engagement letter names the actual advocate who'll appear in court, not just the firm. And get a written disbursements estimate, separate from professional fees.

One last thing. If your matter is urgent — interim injunctions, asset freezes, travel bans — say so on the first call. Onshore UAE courts can grant precautionary attachments within 24–48 hours under Articles 247–256 of Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 (the Civil Procedure Law), but only if the application is properly prepared.^[7] You don't want that work starting on day three.

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Citations

^[1] Dubai International Arbitration Centre, arbitrator panel directory, diac.com ^[2] Legal 500, "Horizons & Co" firm profile, legal500.com ^[3] Chambers and Partners, Global Guide, chambers.com ^[4] Dubai Courts, Court Fees Schedule; Cabinet Decision No. 57 of 2018 on the Executive Regulations of the Civil Procedure Law ^[5] Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2022 Regulating the Legal Profession (replacing Federal Law No. 23 of 1991) ^[6] Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department, register of legal consultants and advocates, legal.dubai.gov.ae ^[7] Federal Decree-Law No. 42 of 2022 Promulgating the Civil Procedure