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Level Up: Unlocking Financial Potential In The Middle East
Welcome to this edition of Law Update, where we focus on the ever-evolving landscape of financial services regulation across the region. As the financial markets in the region continue to grow and diversify, this issue provides timely insights into the key regulatory developments shaping banking, investment, insolvency, and emerging technologies.
2025 is set to be a game-changer for the MENA region, with legal and regulatory shifts from 2024 continuing to reshape its economic landscape. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain are all implementing groundbreaking reforms in sustainable financing, investment laws, labor regulations, and dispute resolution. As the region positions itself for deeper global integration, businesses must adapt to a rapidly evolving legal environment.
Our Eyes on 2025 publication provides essential insights and practical guidance on the key legal updates shaping the year ahead—equipping you with the knowledge to stay ahead in this dynamic market.
A complete spectrum of legal services across jurisdictions in the Middle East & North Africa.
Biography
Yara is an Associate specialising in Corporate Structuring, based in Bahrain.
Yara works closely with our international, regional and domestic clients, providing assistance in setting up commercial entities in Bahrain as well as advising on regional and group restructurings and providing advice on matters concerning Bahrain’s Commercial Companies Law. She holds an excellent working relationship with the competent regulators in Bahrain (including the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and Bahrain notaries) and works closely with the Bahrain Economic Development Board to encourage foreign direct investment in Bahrain. Yara ensures that clients benefit from the most up-to-date and pragmatic advice and guidance regarding corporate structuring-related issues.
Yara has niche expertise with respect to corporate secretarial matters, as well as advising on corporate governance requirements and obligations under Bahrain law. She regularly contributes to articles, including the amendments to Bahrain’s Commercial Companies Law, the Ultimate Beneficial Owner guidelines, and Economic Substance Rules. Yara is dually qualified – she qualified as a licensed Bahraini attorney in 2020 and as an England & Wales solicitor in 2022.
Recent Experience
- Working closely and continuously with Burberry on a wide array of matters, including but not limited to annual compliance procedures, restructuring of their Bahrain entity, closure and establishment of branches in Bahrain and changes to their management in Bahrain.
- Assisting Olayan in the procedural aspects and implementation of distributions of dividends, and separately on the establishment of a global restaurant chain in Bahrain.
- Acting as local legal counsel for UPS and providing continued assistance to with respect to reviews of their corporate profiles, updating details as and when necessary.
- Advising BNH on the sale of shares across their various Bahrain entities, including the sale of shares to Solidarity.
- Assisting Loro Piana in establishing a presence in Bahrain, including assistance with obtaining approvals and exemptions from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Municipality.
- Acting as the legal representatives for D&G in reopening shops in Bahrain, including the relocation of a shop and opening a new branch, and preparation of the suite of documents required to implement the restructuring.
- Advising GFH as part of multi-jurisdictional transactions, including but not limited to population of due diligence reports and transactional share transfer work.
- Acting as the point of contact and advising DP World on considerations with respect to incorporations in Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, including but not limited to foreign ownership restrictions, approvals and licenses required for logistics activities and minimum capital requirements.
- Advising Meituan prior to their entrance to Bahrain market on the pre-incorporation factors.
Language(s)
- Arabic
- English
Education
- 2017 – Legal Practice Course (LPC), University of Law – Guildford
- 2016 – LLB Law, University of Surrey
Admission
- 2022 – E&W Solicitor
- 2020 – Practicing lawyer in Bahrain
Practice(s)
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