Written by Daniel Fusch
For many expatriates living in the United Arab Emirates, navigating the legal system can be daunting. From differences in language to unfamiliar court procedures, accessing legal help often begins with confusion. Recognizing this challenge, Dr. Hassan Elhais helped create professionallawyer.me, a site designed to make legal information more accessible to a wider audience, particularly those unfamiliar with UAE laws.
The website functions as a digital entry point for individuals facing legal challenges in areas such as family law, criminal defense, and civil litigation. Rather than presenting dense legal jargon or opaque processes, it prioritizes clear content, service explanations, and frequently asked questions. The aim, according to Elhais, was to “build something that could act as a first step for those who had no idea where to begin.”
Meeting the Legal Needs of a Global Clientele
The UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities, with expatriates making up roughly 88 percent of the population. With this demographic makeup comes a broad spectrum of legal questions, particularly around family and civil matters involving international jurisdictions. Professionallawyer.me reflects this diversity in both its content and its language offerings, with the firm’s services available in Arabic, English, Hindi, French, Russian, Farsi, and Tagalog.
Many of the cases that reach the firm involve cross-border elements, such as international child custody, the enforcement of foreign court orders, or disputes between business partners in different jurisdictions. This legal complexity creates an information gap for non-Arabic speakers who are unfamiliar with local legal structures. The website fills this gap with plain-language articles, explainer videos, and a “Legal Q&A” section known as “Ask Elhais.”
Not Just Visibility - Credibility
Professionallawyer.me does not function as a simple brochure site. It features over 300 legal articles, court case summaries, and interviews with regional and international media outlets. This content strategy is part of a broader effort to improve public understanding of UAE law while supporting search engine visibility. According to third-party data from SimilarWeb, the site averages over 30,000 monthly visits, with a majority of its traffic originating from the UAE, India, the United Kingdom, and the Philippines.
This visibility is supported by external recognition. Awatif Mohammad Shoqi Advocates & Legal Consultancy, the firm behind the site, has been listed in directories such as The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners (High Net Worth Guide), and has received a high volume of online reviews. Its Google review rating stands at 4.9 out of 5, based on more than 400 individual submissions.
But for Elhais, the goal is not popularity, it’s comprehension. “I don’t think legal services should only begin in an office,” he said. “They should start when someone first begins to search for help.”
A Track Record Built on User Trust
Since its launch, professionallawyer.me has served as a point of contact for more than 70,000 clients, according to the firm. Many initial interactions happen through the site before moving to direct consultation. Users frequently cite the platform’s responsiveness and clarity as reasons for choosing to engage the firm further. The “Success Stories” section includes anonymized examples of resolved cases, offering insight into how particular legal issues are handled under UAE law.
The site’s architecture is structured to reduce friction. Contact forms are minimal, and navigation is direct. Service categories are split by need: family law, criminal defense, civil matters, and arbitration, rather than internal practice groups. This simplifies the decision-making process for someone unfamiliar with legal classifications.
According to Elhais, these choices were deliberate.
“When we started building the site, we asked ourselves, what would someone in trouble want to see first? It wasn’t awards or photos. It was answers.”
Challenges of Legal Communication in a Multilingual Environment
One of the less visible but critical functions of the platform is its role in reducing misinterpretation. Legal miscommunication, particularly across languages, can have real consequences in court. By offering resources in multiple languages and integrating bilingual staff into its consultation model, the firm minimizes the chance of misunderstanding during intake or case preparation.
This aspect is particularly important in family and criminal law, where even small errors in translation can affect outcomes. In recent years, the UAE has introduced reforms aimed at simplifying legal procedures and improving access to justice, but many expatriates still feel disconnected from those systems. Sites like professionallawyer.me have stepped in to bridge that gap.
Future Considerations and Structural Shifts
The legal services market in the UAE is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4 percent, reaching $7.6 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research. The demand is driven not only by business and real estate growth, but by the expanding legal needs of a highly mobile expatriate population.
The firm has no immediate plans to expand beyond the UAE, but continues to focus on refining its digital services and public education materials. Legal technology adoption remains a secondary priority, with more emphasis placed on personal interaction and legal accuracy than automation.
Elhais emphasizes that digital presence is not a replacement for legal skill. “The site can introduce us,” he said, “but the real work begins when people feel understood.”
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