Hassan Elhais

Spear’s Review

Dr Hassan Elhais is a legal consultant at Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy with nearly two decades of experience in UAE family law. His expertise spans divorce, child custody, alimony, child support and inheritance matters, alongside drafting sharia and UAE law-compliant nuptial and divorce settlement agreements.

He regularly advises expats on complex cross-border issues, including the enforceability of foreign financial awards and the international movement of children. Beyond family law, he is also sought after in criminal and property-related cases.

A prolific author and speaker, Elhais provides expert insights in leading international publications and actively contributes to the global legal community, serving as co-chair of the International Academy of Family Lawyers’ relocation of children committee.

Adviser Profile

With over 19 years of experience in the UAE legal landscape, Dr Hassan Elhais has emerged as a leading expert in the UAE, particularly for the expatriate community. As part of Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy, Dr Hassan has assisted numerous UAE residents and citizens in navigating sensitive legal issues, including divorce, child custody, extradition and enforcement of foreign orders in the local courts. His practice areas include but are not limited to criminal, civil, family, banking and commercial law.

Dr Hassan specialises in providing strategic consultations in multi-jurisdictional family cases, including child custody, inheritance and international family law. He is a leading authority in child abduction cases, and his proficiency in the field has led him to become the first expat member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) in the UAE jurisdiction and the elected co-chair of IAFL’s Relocation of Children Committee. Chambers and Partners ranked Dr Hassan as Band 1 in the Family/Matrimonial category for High-Net-Worth individuals for three consecutive years.

Dr Hassan has garnered international recognition and over 30 awards for his contributions to the legal field. He has authored more than 300 local and international publications, and his comments have been featured and published on international news sites including the Associated Press and Bloomberg. He is a member of several international associations such as the European Criminal Bar Association, the International Bar Association and the Union Internationale de Avocats. He has also offered expert opinions on UAE laws before foreign courts in countries including the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, Singapore, France and Switzerland. Due to his expertise, he has been listed in the recommended lawyer’s lists of the British, Australian, US and Canadian embassies.