Aarti Thadani

Partner Norton Rose Fulbright (Middle East) LLP
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
+971 (4) 3696323
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
+971 (4) 3696323
Aarti Thadani

Aarti Thadani

Biography

Aarti Thadani is a senior dispute resolution lawyer based in the Middle East. Aarti has been at the firm for 15 years and has been based in the UAE for over a decade.

Aarti regularly advises regional sovereign wealth funds, owners, developers, contractors and engineers on complex construction projects in the region and globally. She has extensive experience of high-value, cross-border disputes. Her experience comprises a mixture of international arbitration (including LCIA, ICC, DIAC, SIAC and UNCITRAL proceedings), litigation before the DIFC, ADGM and English Courts and other forms of ADR such as mediation and expert determinations. She regularly co-counsels with local Emirati counsel on onshore matters and provides ongoing advice throughout the life cycle of a project. In 2021 Aarti was seconded to one of the largest SWFs in Abu Dhabi.

Aarti is ranked as a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500: EMEA 2025, regularly sits as an arbitrator and has Part II Rights of Audience before the DIFC Courts.

Clients say of Aarti:

"Aarti Thadani stands out as a top practitioner in the region" (Legal 500: EMEA 2023)

"Aarti Thadani provides excellent client service and manages cases very efficiently. Her recommendations to clients are spot on." (Legal 500: EMEA 2023)

"Aarti Thadani is a very smart and engaged lawyer. She is a great team player and an absolute pleasure to work with." (Legal 500: EMEA 2023)

"Aarti Thadani is a reputed name in the construction and international arbitration space." (Legal 500: EMEA 2023)

Professional experience

Representative experience

Representative experience

Advised:

  • The director of a UAE Private Equity house in respect of a DFSA investigation considering allegations of co-mingling of funds.
  • The director of a DIFC regulated entity in respect of a shareholder dispute and DFSA investigation.
  • A prominent Saudi family in respect of a family dispute concerning proceedings in Jersey, Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • A large Saudi investor in respect of a dispute with its Moroccan JV partner.
  • A leading natural resources producer in respect of certain contentious matters arising out of certain offshore and onshore works i the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • An Abu Dhabi energy company in respect of certain contentious matters arising out of a power project in Ghana.
  • An Abu Dhabi renewable energy company in respect of a joint venture dispute.
  • A major Saudi Arabian bank in respect of certain contentious and non-contentious matters arising out of the construction of its new headquarters in Riyadh.
  • An Abu Dhabi Sovereign Wealth Fund in respect of various consultancy, design and construction contracts for a flag ship in Abu Dhabi.
  • A major European Employer (of an oil refinery) in respect of certain contentious matters arising out of certain upgrade works.
  • A leading natural resources producer in respect of certain contentious matters arising out of certain offshore and onshore works in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • A major renewable energy developer in respect of contentious issues arising out of a number of projects in the UAE and globally.
  • A major contractor on a multi-million-dollar ICC arbitration (DIFC seat, DIFC law) against a Dubai Government-owned Employer in respect of works carried out in the DIFC, UAE.
  • A major defence contractor on claims concerning disputed entitlements to extensions of time and variations under a construction subcontract in Qatar.
  • A subcontractor on a dispute with a contractor concerning the construction of a terminal at an airport in Jeddah, KSA.
  • A major sovereign wealth fund in respect of a number of claims from a number of contractors and consultants on numerous projects across Abu Dhabi.
  • An Abu Dhabi Master Developer in respect of ADGM Court proceedings against defaulting Tenants.
  • A Five Star Hotel in Abu Dhabi in respect of ADGM Court proceedings against defaulting Tenants.
  • A Dubai based sub-developer in a multi-million-dollar dispute with a Dubai Government-owned master developer (DIAC, UAE Law, Dubai seat).
  • A Dubai Government-owned entity in a joint venture dispute concerning a development in Moscow, Russia (LCIA, English law, London seat).
  • An international engineering company as subcontractor in a multi-million-dollar dispute with the contractor due to delays caused by the contractor (DIAC, English law, Dubai seat).
  • A master developer in respect of claims by a design consultant.
  • A major master developer in Dubai on numerous disputes arising out of several hotel management agreements entered into with numerous global five-star hotel managers.
  • A quasi government-owned developer in numerous arbitrations with purchasers of off-plan properties in the UAE (DIAC, UAE law, Dubai seat).
  • A large Saudi pharmaceutical entity in respect of a dispute with its UAE JV partner.
  • A leading provider of IVF treatments in a multi-million-dollar DIFC Court litigation against a global healthcare provider.
  • A major Turkish conglomerate on certain rental disputes with a Dubai-based master developer.
  • An international hotelier in a multi-million-dollar dispute arising out of a hotel management agreement with a hotel owner (DIFC-LCIA, DIFC seat, English law).
  • A Saudi hotel owner in respect of a dispute with an international hotelier.
  • A director of a major private equity firm on a regulatory investigation.
  • A consortium of major Middle Eastern and Indian banks in the acceleration of a multi-million loan and the enforcement of security in numerous jurisdictions.
  • A consortium of regional Middle East and Indian banks in respect of the acceleration of certain loans to a major Indian airline (partially owned at the time by Etihad), which is now embroiled in insolvency proceedings.
  • An international bank in respect of a dispute concerning the terms of its lease with its landlord (a government entity in Dubai).
  • A partner in a DIFC limited liability partnership on a dispute involving the breach of a partnership agreement.
  • A multi-national airport operations syndicate against a retail contractor relating to the retail concessions at two European airports (LCIA administered UNCITRAL, Cyprus law, London seat).
  • An Indian financial technologies provider against a BVI holding company which owns and controls a group of companies providing collateral control services to banks in relation to commodities transactions and a Swiss national. Following a successful result in the arbitration representing the Indian company in subsequent enforcement actions in various jurisdictions, including Switzerland, France, and the UK (ICC, English law, London seat).
  • A Russian coffee company against a US-incorporated supplier of green coffee beans (LCIA, English law, London seat).
  • An international hotel group in relation to the termination of a hotel project in Morocco (ICC, English law, London seat).
  • A major UK transport company on a potential challenge to a major procurement contract.

Education

Education

London School of Economics and Political Science - LLB (Honours) 2008

University of Salford – LLM in Construction Law and Practice (Distinction) 2021

Admissions

Admissions

  • Solicitor, qualified in England & Wales 2012

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