Senior Associate
Languages spoken
Arabic | English
Dara Sahab is a senior associate in the International Dispute Resolution Practice Group based in Riyadh.
Dara advises on a range of international disputes across commercial, construction and investment treaty arbitration, and has experience with proceedings administered under the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) rules, among others. She also advised on US, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) court proceedings.
Between 2023 and 2026, Dara served as the deputy chief of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) at the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration where she oversaw the institution’s case management function, a portfolio exceeding 200 arbitration and mediation cases, the SCCA Court, contributed to editing institutional rules and instruments and helped develop new legislation including the new Saudi arbitration law.
Dara previously worked in law firms in Washington DC and Dubai.
Acting for an employer in Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC) arbitration proceedings against a contractor in relation to a construction project in the UAE.
Acting for a European company in LCIA and ICC arbitration proceedings relating to the construction of a tram system in Qatar.
Serving as project counsel to an owner during the construction of an oil refinery in Egypt.
Advising contractors on Saudi law in major construction projects in Saudi Arabia.
Assisted in the representation of state-owned charities in multidistrict US litigation involving the Anti-Terrorism Act and other intentional torts.
Acting for a Middle Eastern state in investment treaty arbitration arising from purported investments in construction projects in the state’s power industry.
Acting for a global logistics company in Saudi-seated ad hoc arbitration proceedings.
Serving as tribunal secretary in international commercial arbitration proceedings.
Author, “SCCA Saudi Case Law Study: Three Years in Review”, Journal of International Arbitration 41,
no. 6 (2024): 723–744.
Co-Author, “U.S. Civil Courts as the New Front on the ‘War on Terror?’ An Examination of JASTA’s Constitutionality and Likely Impact on Middle Eastern Businesses,” Mena Business Law Review, December 2017.
Practice Note, “Outline of the Court System and Jurisdiction of the Courts in Saudi Arabia,” Lexis Nexis Gulf Legal Advisor.
Practice Note, “Enforcement of Foreign Court Judgments in Saudi Arabia,” Lexis Nexis Gulf Legal Advisor.
Practice Note, “Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in Saudi Arabia,” Lexis Nexis Gulf Legal Advisor.