Profile

Celine is a partner in our Dubai office who specialises in UAE and international arbitration. She qualified in Lebanon in 2005 and is also a registered legal consultant in Dubai.

With over 10 years’ experience practicing in the Middle East, Celine’s expertise in domestic and international arbitration spans a range of industry sectors. Her focus is on UAE and international arbitration across a range of industry sectors, including real estate, commercial and construction disputes. She also has considerable experience of corporate, civil and commercial law within the UAE and has been involved in drafting several UAE decrees, laws and regulations.

Predominantly acting for multi-national corporates, construction companies and high net worth individuals, Celine has also been involved with drafting training materials for the Dubai Legal Affairs Department.

She is also fluent in Arabic, English and French, and is a member of the UAE International Chamber of Commerce and Arbitral Women. Celine also sits as arbitrator with leading institutions such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Dubai International Financial Centre and London Court of International Arbitration (DIFC-LCIA), and Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) – from whom she was awarded best sole arbitrator under the age of 40 in 2018.

Qualifications

  • Qualified in Lebanon in 2005
Celine specialises in real estate, construction, infrastructure, and energy-related disputes.

Market recognition

  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation (United Arab Emirates)'
    "Celine Abi Habib Kanakri, who has a broad international arbitration practice, co-leads the group."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2023
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Construction (United Arab Emirates)'
    "Celine Abi Habib Kanakri specialises in real estate, construction, infrastructure, and energy-related disputes."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2023
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Construction (United Arab Emirates)'
    "Celine Abi Habib Kanakri has a deep understanding of the construction sector."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2022
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation (United Arab Emirates)'
    "Celine Abi Habib Kanakri specialises in international arbitration and focuses on real estate, commercial and construction-related disputes."
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2022
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Construction (United Arab Emirates)'
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2021
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and International Litigation (United Arab Emirates)'
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2021
  • Recommended Lawyer for 'Construction (United Arab Emirates)'
    The Legal 500 EMEA 2020

Work highlights

  • Advised on a multimillion AED commercial dispute (DIAC Rules), between shareholders of a UAE investment company, for investments in the Abu Dhabi health care sector and involving the stock exchange.
  • Advised on a multi-billion AED corporate and commercial dispute between the heirs of shareholders in a UAE-based group of medical and pharmaceutical companies. Arbitration was in Arabic, through a court-appointed panel, following ADCCAC Rules.
  • Advised on a multimillion AED commercial dispute between a Malaysian company and a UAE agent/ distributor, over the implementation of an agency/ distribution agreement in the UAE under the DIAC Rules.
  • Advised on a multimillion AED commercial construction dispute (DIAC Rules), between a Fortune 100 contractor and an employer, concerning work in an eminent project in Dubai.
  • Advised on a multimillion AED commercial construction dispute (ICC Rules) between a contractor and a sub-contractor, over the execution of construction works in a renowned Dubai project in Dubai under the ICC Rules.
  • Advised on a multimillion AED construction and oil and gas dispute between a contractor and a sub-contractor, over the execution of construction works on a pipeline in Abu Dhabi under the ICC Rules.