< Previous40 September 2025law-middleeast.com POWER LIST Daniela Bartolo leads the legal, compliance, and safety and security teams at Careem Technologies. For over seven years, she has guided Careem’s growth from a ride-hailing app into the region’s ‘everything app’, which now off ers a wide range of services including payments, groceries, and home services. She has led key initiatives including Careem’s fundraising, growing the Careem Pay remittance service, launching the employee equity programme, and developing the company’s responsible AI compliance framework. Before joining Careem, Bartolo built her legal career in the technology and telecoms sector. She previously held legal and regulatory roles at Etisalat in Abu Dhabi and Vodafone in Qatar and Malta, and holds degrees in both law and business. She continues to work at the intersection of technology, regulation, and innovation, building teams that combine technical expertise with strong commercial judgement. DANIELA BARTOLO ROLE: GENERAL COUNSEL COMPANY: CAREEM TECHNOLOGIES EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 13 YEARS TEAM: 9 Anwar El Khatib leads the legal function at Salik, advising on strategic transactions and regulatory matters as the company expands beyond its core toll operations. With three decades of experience, El Khatib has held senior legal roles across diverse sectors, including corporate, fi nance, insurance, construction, commodity trading, and fi ntech. Before joining Salik, he was general counsel of Sukoon Insurance (formerly Oman Insurance). Earlier, as general counsel of Tamweel, he established its legal function from scratch and played a pivotal role in developing the UAE’s fi rst Sharia- compliant foreclosure process. His career also includes serving as group legal director and company secretary at Depa, and as a partner at Souhaid, Sayssa and Khatib. He also writes about governance, regulation, and corporate strategy. Commenting on his inclusion in the inaugural list, he said: “Being included in the GCs in the GCC Power List 2025 refl ects how the role of in-house legal in our region has evolved, from safeguarding compliance to being an integral part of the business, shaping strategy, enabling innovation, and guiding organisations through complex and fast-changing legal landscapes.” ANWAR EL KHATIB ROLE: CHIEF LEGAL COUNSEL COMPANY: SALIK EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 30 YEARS TEAM: 3September 2025 41law-middleeast.com POWER LIST Maude El Khoury leads Sunset Hospitality Group’s legal strategy as it looks to expand its extensive portfolio of lifestyle and hospitality brands, which span more than 87 venues across 25 countries. Over the past fi ve years, El Khoury has played a pivotal role in the group’s most signifi cant milestones—securing fi nancing from Goldman Sachs and HSBC, leading the acquisition of a major stake in Maximal Concepts, and steering high-value hotel and F&B expansion projects worldwide. Recognised for her business-minded approach and collaborative style, she continues to shape the group’s legal strategy as it expands across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. "This recognition celebrates the bold moves we have made at Sunset Hospitality Group—from securing landmark fi nancing and acquiring a major stake in Maximal Concepts to growing from under 20 to 87 venues worldwide in under fi ve years,” said El Khoury. “It is a testament to what is possible when legal strategy and business ambition work hand in hand.” MAUDE EL KHOURY ROLE: GENERAL COUNSEL COMPANY: SUNSET HOSPITALITY GROUP EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 13 YEARS TEAM: 4 Mohamed El Mogy has been shaping Siemens Energy’s regional legal strategy from the UAE for over fi ve years. He previously spent two years as general counsel at Siemens, covering Egypt, Libya, and the Middle East. He has also held senior in-house positions at Sandoz and PepsiCo. At Sandoz, where he spent almost two years, he was the general counsel and head of legal for the North East Africa region. During his nearly three years at PepsiCo, he was a member of the global compliance and ethics function within the legal department for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Earlier in his career, he worked at QatarEnergy in Doha and Vodafone in Cairo. Elmogy holds a PhD in law and is the president of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) for the MENA region. A former colleague said of him: “El Mogy has always adopted a very friendly, positive, and pro-active attitude. Nothing is too much trouble, even out of hours.” MOHAMED EL MOGY ROLE: GENERAL COUNSEL COMPANY: SIEMENS ENERGY EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 29 YEARS TEAM: 5 (REGIONAL); 720 (GLOBAL)42 September 2025law-middleeast.com POWER LIST Yosr Hamza is the head of legal and director of legal & compliance at Gartner. With over 15 years of experience, she has led regional legal functions, built departments from the ground up, and advised global organisations on complex regulatory issues. Beyond her corporate role, Hamza is an advocate for diversity, inclusion, and disability rights. She co-founded the legal and compliance inclusion council at Gartner and volunteers her time mentoring junior professionals and promoting disability-friendly workplace policies. As a full-time caregiver to her son, who has a rare disability, she uses her personal experience to drive change. This also led her to co-found Yusr, an app designed to simplify life for caregiver families in the Middle East and North Africa. "Yosr Hamza is not just a lawyer and caregiver; she embodies compassion and dedication in everything she does,” said Sabrine Makkes, a general counsel and founder of a mentoring project Yosr is involved in. “Yosr's blend of legal expertise and heartfelt caregiving refl ects her deep commitment to making a positive diff erence in people's lives.” YOSR HAMZA ROLE: HEAD OF LEGAL, DIRECTOR OF LEGAL & COMPLIANCE COMPANY: GARTNER EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 15 YEARS TEAM: 3 AAli Haidar is a Canadian-qualifi ed barrister and solicitor with nearly 20 years of experience in Canada, the UK, and the Middle East. He has worked in both private practice, at fi rms such as Cliff ord Chance, and in-house for multinational companies such as 3M. Currently, he is the head of legal aff airs for Microsoft in the Middle East. In this role, he leads various legal and technology initiatives. With his extensive international experience and focus on ethical technology, Haidar helps companies navigate the complexities of AI governance and adoption. He is a frequent speaker and commentator on the responsible use of AI and its eff ective application in legal practice. “I am honoured to be included in the GCs in the GCC Power List 2025 by Law Middle East,” said Haidar. “This recognition refl ects the collective eff orts of the incredible teams and colleagues I have had the privilege to work with. It is a proud moment to be acknowledged among such a distinguished group of legal leaders driving impact across the region.” ALI HAIDAR ROLE: HEAD OF LEGAL AFFAIRS COMPANY: MICROSOFT MIDDLE EAST EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 19 YEARS TEAM: 3September 2025 43law-middleeast.com POWER LIST Roopal Jobanputra spearheads the legal strategy at Core42, a G42 company formed in October 2023 to lead the UAE’s national cloud and generative AI initiatives. With over eight years on the Core42 legal team, including two as general counsel, Jobanputra provides strategic legal advice to executive leadership. She oversees international M&A, joint ventures, and other key strategic initiatives. Before joining Core42, she worked at Gowling WLG's Dubai offi ce, where she advised clients across the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Asia on corporate matters such as M&A, private equity, IPOs, and restructuring. She also served as legal counsel for Mashreq, specialising in corporate and Islamic fi nance, and was a solicitor in the corporate group at Fieldfi sher. Speaking to Law Middle East about her career, Jobanputra said: “I learned that credibility is built through consistency, strategic thinking, and adding value beyond legal counsel—by becoming a trusted business partner.” ROOPAL JOBANPUTRA ROLE: GENERAL COUNSEL COMPANY: CORE42 EMIRATE: ABU DHABI PQE: 19 YEARS TEAM: 11 (LEGAL); 2 (COMPLIANCE) With over 20 years of experience, Hassan Basil Hassan is a seasoned legal professional who has shaped legal and business strategies across the Middle East, Africa, Asia- Pacifi c, and Russia. Previously, he held senior legal positions at Mars, GE Healthcare, and Dubai Holding, where he advised boards, drove regulatory reform, and led complex cross-border transactions in some of the world’s most challenging markets. At Majid Al Futtaim, he leads legal, compliance, data governance, and government and regulatory aff airs. He advises the board and C-suite on matters of governance, risk, and company transformation and has been pivotal in steering the group’s transition from a founder-led legacy to an institutional, board-driven governance model. Additionally, he chairs the company’s ethics and compliance committee and co-sponsors its women in leadership and allyship programmes. “This recognition is humbling because it refl ects more than individual eff ort. It speaks to the collective commitment of those I have had the privilege to lead and learn from,” he told Law Middle East. “For me, legal leadership is ensuring that progress never comes at the expense of principle.” HASSAN BASIL HASSAN ROLE: CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER & GENERAL COUNSEL COMPANY: MAJID AL FUTTAIM PQE: 20+ YEARS TEAM: 85 (REGIONAL & GLOBAL)44 September 2025law-middleeast.com POWER LIST Mohammed Majid serves on the board of the Dubizzle Group and oversees the global legal function across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). He joined the company in 2020, the same year Dubizzle became the UAE's fi rst homegrown unicorn. The group has built and grown the Dubizzle and Bayut businesses across the UAE and MENA region. Before joining Dubizzle, Majid spent 15 years in private practice, retiring as a partner from CMS. While there, he represented Dubizzle and other high-growth companies on major transactions. He has been based in the Middle East since 2011, having previously worked as a private equity lawyer in London. Since joining Dubizzle, Majid has led the group’s M&A activities. Over the past year, he has executed three strategic acquisitions for the group: DriveArabia (UAE), Property Monitor (UAE), and Hatla2ee (Egypt). According to a partner at a global law fi rm, "Mohammed has been instrumental in the growth trajectory of the business and has spearheaded the attack when it comes to the expansion plans of the group. He is not afraid to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in." MOHAMMED MAJID ROLE: GENERAL COUNSEL COMPANY: DUBIZZLE GROUP EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 20 YEARS TEAM: 10+ (REGIONAL); 20+ (GLOBAL) WWith an extensive background in corporate law, having started her career with Herbert Smith Freehills in London, Law brings a wealth of experience from multinational organisations, including Blackstone, Novartis, and most recently Mastercard. Throughout her career, she has worked across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, while navigating complex regulatory landscapes and providing strategic legal counsel across these diverse jurisdictions. Law believes strongly that success is only measured by the growth, confi dence, and success of those you lead. “I am honoured to have been included in the GCs in the GCC Power List by Law Middle East, and proud to be recognised alongside such an esteemed group of peers,” said Law. This acknowledgment refl ects the collective impact of legal leadership across our region, and I am grateful to be part of that journey. My greatest source of professional pride comes from creating an environment where talent thrives and future leaders emerge.” EMILIA LAW ROLE: GENERAL COUNSEL, EEMEA COMPANY: MASTERCARD EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 16 YEARS TEAM: 20 DIRECT REPORTS; 50+ SPAN OF CONTROLSeptember 2025 45law-middleeast.com POWER LIST T ommaso Pace leads the legal, compliance, and GRC divisions for Tabby, a fast-growing fi ntech company. Prior to joining Tabby, Pace helped shape the UAE's tech ecosystem as legal director at Careem. There, he oversaw the legal and compliance team for its fi ntech arm and spearheaded global M&A, playing a pivotal role in the acquisition of a majority stake in Careem's super app business by e&. Pace brings extensive global fi ntech experience to his role, notably as a senior deal team member at Revolut during its $800 million series E funding round. His sharp business sense also comes from his time in private practice at top law fi rms in London, including Withers, Chiomenti, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore. He holds a PhD in comparative business law, and is dual-qualifi ed in both England & Wales and Italy. Hosam Arab, CEO of Tabby, said: “In the short time Tommaso has been with us, he has been instrumental in navigating Tabby through a number of complex challenges and positioning us for long-term success. This recognition is a testament to his exceptional leadership, commercial acumen and ability to balance risk with opportunity.” TOMMASO PACE ROLE: GENERAL COUNSEL COMPANY: TABBY EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 10 YEARS TEAM: 40: 10 (LEGAL); 25 (COMPLIANCE); 5 (GRC) MMarwan Nijmeh oversees ADNOC’s legal, governance, and compliance functions. Since his appointment, his team has been instrumental in achieving some of the group’s most signifi cant milestones, including the launch of XRG, ADNOC’s $80 billion investment arm, and completing transactions such as the $16 billion takeover off er for Covestro. His team has also delivered landmark listings and fi nancings that have positioned ADNOC as a global capital markets player, navigating regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions. Nijmeh began his career at Simmons & Simmons before moving to Allen & Overy, as it was known then. He then spent 15 years as the deputy chief legal offi cer at Mubadala Investment Company. At ADNOC, he has led key transformations in governance and compliance. This has involved modernising the delegation of authority and board systems, strengthening integrity frameworks, and spearheading the ADNOC Legal Development Institute to train the next generation of Emirati lawyers. MARWAN NIJMEH ROLE: CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER COMPANY: ADNOC GROUP EMIRATE: ABU DHABI PQE: 25 YEARS TEAM: 200+ (LEGAL, COMPLIANCE & GOVERNANCE)46 September 2025law-middleeast.com POWER LIST E mile Saadi sits at the intersection of law, technology, and public policy. Currently, he is the head of legal for Apple in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) as well as the policy and regulatory coordination lead in the Europe, Middle East, India, and Africa (EMEIA) region. He has more than 15 years of experience navigating complex regulatory landscapes. He joined Apple in 2014 as the multi-billion-dollar technology company’s fi rst lawyer in the region. Since then, he has been responsible for building and developing Apple’s legal capabilities. Prior to joining Apple, he worked at Bird & Bird, a specialist technology law fi rm, in Dubai. Earlier in his career, he was part of Yahoo’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) legal team, and worked at Shoosmiths and Irwin Mitchell in the UK. EMILE SAADI ROLE: HEAD OF LEGAL (MEA); POLICY & REGULATORY LEAD (EMEIA) COMPANY: APPLE EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 15+ YEARS TEAM: CONFIDENTIAL As IBM’s lead counsel since 2024 and a member of IBM's law department since 2019, Randa Rezk has played a key role in managing legal risk and supporting commercial operations across the Middle East and Africa (MEA). She has over ten years of regional experience, spanning corporate and commercial law, labour law, IT, and litigation. Her notable achievements include advising on the spin-off of IBM’s managed infrastructure services business into Kyndryl, as well as the implementation of the Egyptian Data Protection Law in coordination with IBM's global privacy team. Rezk has also been instrumental in aligning IBM’s operations with both internal compliance standards and external regulations. Previously, she supported the high-profi le 2015 corporate split of Hewlett-Packard into Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and HP Inc. “Eff ective legal counsel goes beyond rules—it is about leading with insight, building trust, and collaborating to unlock business potential,” said Rezk. “I am proud to have supported strategic initiatives that are driving innovation across the region.” RANDA REZK ROLE: LEAD COUNSEL (MEA) COMPANY: IBM CONSULTING, IBM EMIRATE: DUBAI PQE: 13 YEARS TEAM: CONFIDENTIAL48 September 2025law-middleeast.com ANALYSIS Middle Eastern businesses are balancing deep-rooted cultural values with modern strategies to foster a more inclusive environment THE POWER OF SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY In today’s evolving business landscape, social sustainability has emerged as a critical pillar of corporate strategies. By embracing social sustainability, businesses can foster trust, enhance their reputations, and build stronger relationships through alignment of their goals and values with those of their stakeholders. This alignment not only benefi ts the companies but also contributes positively to the communities they serve. But how is social sustainability approached in Middle Eastern businesses, and in particular, the Gulf states? And while the benefi ts of a shared commitment to social sustainability are clear, what are the challenges and unique factors in the region that infl uence its implementation? An understanding of these nuances can provide insights into the broader impact of social sustainability in this dynamic region. WHY SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS Social sustainability goes beyond economic and environmental concerns, and instead focuses on the social dimensions of such development. According to the United Nations Global Compact, companies impact not only their employees but also workers across the value chain, customers, and local communities. As such, it is essential for businesses to proactively manage their social impact. DIVERSITY, CULTURE AND PHILANTHROPY Approaches to social sustainability vary across regions and cultures. In the Middle East, religious teachings and cultural values play a signifi cant role in shaping corporate social strategies. Philanthropy deeply rooted in religious traditions has long been a cornerstone Ehab Elsonbaty Partner at DLA Piper Awmaima Amrayaf Senior impact advisor at DLA Piper 88% Research shows that businesses with social sustainability initiatives report 88% higher operational performance LME_Sep2025_48-49_Analysis_13670768.indd 48LME_Sep2025_48-49_Analysis_13670768.indd 4810/09/2025 11:0710/09/2025 11:07September 2025 49law-middleeast.com ANALYSIS of social responsibility in the region. Businesses are expected to contribute to societal welfare through charitable initiatives, including support for education, healthcare, and infrastructure. These eff orts are seen not only as acts of goodwill but also as moral and religious obligations. In contrast, companies in the US and Europe often adopt a more secular approach, guided by voluntary standards and industry best practices. Their focus tends to be on quality of life, equality, diversity, and social cohesion. This refl ects Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen’s perspective on social responsibility, which emphasises the long-term wellbeing of society. This article does not aim to favour one approach over another but rather to highlight the unique characteristics of each. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Diversity and inclusion: In the Middle East, diversity and inclusion are complex and evolving concepts. Often framed within religious or ethnic contexts, some social considerations may be limited by traditional norms and conservative interpretations. However, there is growing awareness of the value of diversity in driving innovation, creativity, and sustainable growth. Many businesses in the region are making strides by improving representation and promoting transparency through public data reporting. Equity in access to opportunities: While the principle of equity is widely upheld, certain sectors, particularly state-owned enterprises, may prioritise employment for citizens. Nonetheless, there is increasing recognition of the need to provide equal opportunities for all individuals. Eff orts are underway to address historical inequalities and foster a more inclusive and diverse workforce, ensuring fair treatment for everyone. Stakeholder engagement: Stakeholder engagement in the Middle East is deeply rooted in values of justice and mutual consultation. Businesses often collaborate with local community leaders and government entities to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability. While progress has been made, there remains potential to broaden engagement and build trust with a wider range of stakeholders. Middle Eastern businesses must recognise the importance of social sustainability and tailor their strategies to refl ect the region’s unique cultural, religious, and historical contexts. By developing clear frameworks that respect regional diversity while upholding universal principles, companies can align their eff orts towards shared goals and foster a more inclusive business environment. Collaboration and knowledge exchange between businesses in the Middle East, the US, and Europe can drive innovation, improve decision-making, and promote sustainable growth across borders. This cross-regional cooperation can also lead to the development of best practices that benefi t all parties involved, enhancing global sustainability eff orts. Middle Eastern businesses must recognise the importance of social sustainability and tailor their strategies to refl ect the region’s unique cultural, religious, and historical contexts LME_Sep2025_48-49_Analysis_13670768.indd 49LME_Sep2025_48-49_Analysis_13670768.indd 4910/09/2025 11:0710/09/2025 11:07Next >