People
Malek Al Rifai is a real estate partner in the Corporate, Finance and Investments Group based in the Dubai office. Malek has a diverse multidisciplinary practice focused on owners and operators in the real estate industry. He has represented developers, REITs, commercial and investment banks, private equity fund sponsors, family offices and institutional investors in a variety of real estate and corporate transactions and regulatory matters across the GCC.
Malek’s transactional experience includes direct and indirect real estate acquisitions across all types of property (including hospitality, industrial, educational and healthcare assets), development transactions, hotel acquisition and management transactions, capital market and financing transactions involving real estate, representation of institutional investors and real estate funds in connection with the formation of real estate joint ventures, and turnaround of distressed off-plan projects.
Malek is recognized in both Chambers Global Guide and Legal 500 EMEA. Clients describe him as a “standout lawyer” who “thinks outside the box” and is “business minded, very responsive and very knowledgeable”.
Malek received his LLB from Saint Joseph University. He also holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from Bayes Business School (City, University of London).
Malek is fluent in Arabic, English and French.
Executive MBA, Bayes Business School, City University of London
LLB in Private Law/ Master 1 (Maîtrise en droit privé), Faculty of Law, Saint Joseph University
Beirut
Beirut Bar Association, 2008
Arabic
English
French
February 27, 2026
King & Spalding advises Arcapita on forward funding and partnership with ASMO to develop major logistics facility at King Salman Energy Park
Real Estate Private Credit
An Asia-based private credit platform, with respect to a secured term construction facility to a UAE-based real estate developer of luxury properties, in connection with the construction of a portfolio of its luxury villa projects in Dubai.
Nomura Special Investments Singapore Pte. Ltd., on a cross border, structured real estate financing in Dubai, for a leading luxury real estate development in the UAE.
See more
May 12, 2026
Abu Dhabi Off‑Plan 2.0: Escrow, Guarantees and Governance in a Maturing Market
April 27, 2026
UAE Real Estate Special Situations: Legal Architecture, Execution Risk and Institutional Structuring
April 8, 2026
Common Ground: Abu Dhabi’s Updated Jointly Owned Property Regime - Structuring Implications for Capital
February 27, 2026
King & Spalding advises Arcapita on forward funding and partnership with ASMO to develop major logistics facility at King Salman Energy Park
Real Estate Private Credit
An Asia-based private credit platform, with respect to a secured term construction facility to a UAE-based real estate developer of luxury properties, in connection with the construction of a portfolio of its luxury villa projects in Dubai.
Nomura Special Investments Singapore Pte. Ltd., on a cross border, structured real estate financing in Dubai, for a leading luxury real estate development in the UAE.
See more
May 12, 2026
Abu Dhabi Off‑Plan 2.0: Escrow, Guarantees and Governance in a Maturing Market
April 27, 2026
UAE Real Estate Special Situations: Legal Architecture, Execution Risk and Institutional Structuring
April 8, 2026
Common Ground: Abu Dhabi’s Updated Jointly Owned Property Regime - Structuring Implications for Capital
February 27, 2026
King & Spalding advises Arcapita on forward funding and partnership with ASMO to develop major logistics facility at King Salman Energy Park
Executive MBA, Bayes Business School, City University of London
LLB in Private Law/ Master 1 (Maîtrise en droit privé), Faculty of Law, Saint Joseph University
Beirut
Beirut Bar Association, 2008
Arabic
English
French