Ahmed El-Bayouk (FCIArb)
Arbitrator, Group General Counsel 

Summary 

A solicitor qualified in England & Wales, I trained and practiced in the United Kingdom. I subsequently spent a significant part of my career in Dentons & Co's Tier 1 Construction & International Arbitration practice acting as legal counsel on arbitrations globally and across the Middle East. I currently act as an arbitrator and sit as Group General Counsel for Drake & Scull International PJSC with overall responsibility for the legal matters of the entire Drake & Scull group across 22 different jurisdictions. 

I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and regularly accept arbitral appointments. I have sat both as sole arbitrator and party-nominated arbitrator on ad-hoc arbitrations and arbitrations held under the DIAC rules. 

I have a wealth of experience acting as legal counsel on a range of complex cross-border disputes, including arbitrations under the DIAC, ICC, LCIA, and ADCCAC rules. I have particular experience acting on high-value infrastructure, energy and civil-engineering projects of national significance within the Middle East and globally. 

Admissions and Qualifications 

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2024)

Registered Practitioner (Part 1), Dubai International Finance Centre Courts (2019)

Legal Advisor, Dubai Legal Affairs Department (2018)

Solicitor, Senior Courts of England and Wales (2018)

Education 

University of Law, 2016, MSc, LPC, Law and Business

University of Law, 2015, Graduate Diploma in Law

University of Aberdeen, 2012, LLB (Hons), Law.

 As Arbitrator 

Is currently sitting, or has sat, as Arbitrator in the following matters: 

• DIAC Arbitration: Arbitrator as part of a three-person arbitral tribunal on an arbitration under the DIAC Rules in relation to the interior fit-out of an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Matters in dispute involved quality of works, defects, loans and financing, and variations. 

• Ad-hoc Arbitration: Party-nominated arbitrator on an arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules in relation to a commercial contract for the supply of goods entered into between counterparties based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Matters in dispute involved quality of goods and compliance with the payment terms. 

• Ad-hoc Arbitration: Party-nominated arbitrator on an arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules in relation to a dispute under a subcontract for works carried out in the construction of a hotel in Muscat, Oman. Matters in dispute involved force-majeure, delayed payments, defects and contract termination. 

• DIAC Arbitration: Sole arbitrator on an arbitration under the DIAC Rules in relation to a project for the construction of a number of high-end villas in the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Matters in dispute involved delay, disruption, prolongation costs and contra-charges. 

As Counsel 

Acted as legal counsel in numerous disputes, particularly in the construction & infrastructure, energy, and general commercial sectors, including the following: 

• Utilities Project (District Cooling) – legal counsel acting on behalf of a government-owned utilities provider against a government-linked entity in a USD 110 million DIFC-LCIA arbitration involving the provision of cooling services from a series of seven interconnected district cooling plants. 

• UAE Infrastructure Project (Airport) – legal counsel acting on behalf of the main contractor in three separate but interconnected DIAC arbitrations regarding the construction of an airport terminal in the Middle East. 

• Oman Oil & Gas Project –acting on behalf a quasi-government entity in relation to a USD 400m UNCITRAL arbitration relating to the construction of Oil & Gas facilities in the Sultanate of Oman. 

• KSA Infrastructure Dispute (Oil & Gas) – acting on behalf of a main contractor in relation to a USD900 million ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules in relation to the construction of oil storage and repurposing tanks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

• KSA Infrastructure Project (Airport) – legal counsel acting on behalf of a main contractor in relation to a USD 1.5 billion ICC arbitration involving the construction of an airport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

• UAE Infrastructure Project (Airport) – acting on behalf of a main contractor (unincorporated joint venture) against a Chinese subcontractor in relation to a USD 110 million ADCCAC arbitration involving the construction of an airport in the United Arab Emirates. 

• Renewable Energy Project (Solar Energy Plant) - acting on behalf of a contractor in two separate LCIA arbitrations in relation to the construction of one of the world's largest solar energy plants. 

• Energy (Oil & Gas Plant) – acting on behalf of a main contractor in an ad hoc (UNCITRAL) arbitration in relation to the construction of a USD870m Oil & Gas Facility in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.