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Legal and Compliance Executive Search UAE

Senior search for the legal and compliance leaders the UAE‘s most regulated organisations need now.

Regulatory expectations across the UAE have risen sharply. Boards and leadership teams need General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officers and senior legal directors who understand the region at a structural level — not just technically. There are not enough of them.

Hanson Search runs legal and compliance executive search across the UAE through our Hanson Corporate practice, based in Dubai. We place the leaders who protect reputation, manage risk and give organisations the confidence to operate at the highest level.

Every shortlist looks credible on paper. The work is identifying who has genuine regional experience, who understands the DIFC and ADGM frameworks from the inside and who can land and lead.

The Legal and Compliance Roles We Place Across the UAE

Legal and compliance leadership spans far beyond a single appointment. We place General Counsel, Chief Legal Officers and Chief Compliance Officers at the executive level.

We also recruit Deputy General Counsel, Heads of Legal, Heads of Regulatory Affairs, Data Protection Officers and Company Secretaries across financial services, real estate, sovereign-backed entities, private capital and technology businesses.

In every search, we look for the same combination: genuine in-market experience, sound regulatory judgement and the seniority to lead under scrutiny.

Why Legal and Compliance Hiring in the UAE Has Become Harder

The DIFC and ADGM regulatory frameworks have matured considerably, and the DFSA and FSRA have raised their expectations around the capability of senior in-house counsel. Organisations that previously relied on external advisers are now under pressure to build permanent leadership.

Demand for compliance expertise in AML, sanctions and financial crime has risen sharply, driven by international scrutiny of the region and the continued expansion of global financial institutions into the Gulf. At the same time, the pool of candidates with dual common-law and civil-law jurisdiction experience remains genuinely shallow.

The strongest legal and compliance leaders are not looking. They hold senior roles, field approaches regularly and will only move for the right mandate. That makes standard advertised search ineffective for these appointments.

Why Organisations Choose Hanson Search for Legal and Compliance Executive Search UAE

Senior-led by design. The consultant who runs your brief is the consultant who maps the market, approaches the candidates and presents the shortlist. You are not passed down the chain.

Amanda Dowie leads our MENA search, and our team has built long-standing relationships with senior legal and compliance professionals across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Bahrain. We know the regional market and we know who is not on it yet.

We work on a retained basis with a small number of clients. That focus is deliberate. It means every mandate gets the rigour and senior attention it requires — and it is why clients have trusted us for over 20 years. Global reach. Boutique standards. The person you meet is the person who delivers.

Appoint a Legal or Compliance Leader in the UAE

If you are looking to place a General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer or senior legal leader in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or across the wider Gulf, start with a short, confidential conversation with our MENA team. Get in touch today.

Latest jobs

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  • 25.06.2026

    SVP, External Communications, New York

    • Location: New York
    • Type: Permanent
    • Salary: Competitve
    • Specialism: Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, Government Relations & Policy, Corporate Affairs
    SVP External Communications We are working with a NYSE-listed company with an active and well-documented acquisition programme to find their SVP of External Communications. This is a senior appointment for an exceptional communications professional who is as comfortable driving strategy as they are getting into the detail, someone who has owned an external na...
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  • 18.06.2026

    Communications and Marketing Director, Manufacturing Business, London or Bridgend, Wales

    • Location: London or Wales
    • Type: Permanent
    • Salary: Competitive
    • Specialism: Marketing, PR & Comms
    Hanson Search is proud to be partnering exclusively with a leading UK manufacturing business to appoint its next Communications and Marketing Director — a genuinely rare opportunity to join a purposeful, commercially significant organisation at a pivotal moment in its growth.  About the Business  Our client is a mark...
    View job & apply
  • 18.06.2026

    Interim Senior Account Manager, PR, London

    • Location: London
    • Type: Interim / Hybrid
    • Salary: £275-£300 per day
    • Specialism: Consumer Communications, Corporate Communications, Corpsumer Communications
    We're on the lookout for a freelance Senior Account Manager to support our brilliant client – a boutique agency in growth mode – during a period of heavy activity. You'll be a savvy, seasoned publicist with strong media relations skills and the ability to raise profile quickly for a clutch of new client relationships in sports & fitness so experience in these areas is essential. Media Relations and PR Skills The right person here will be an ultra-reliable, calm and creative pro...
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  • 18.06.2026

    Fractional CRM Consultant (2-3 days per week), Consumer Brand, London

    • Location: London
    • Salary: Circa £700 per day
    • Specialism: Digital, Editorial & Content, Marketing
    Fractional Marketing Leader with Elite HubSpot Skills We're looking for a really excellent fractional marketing leader with elite-level HubSpot skills to guide our client – a premium consumer brand – through the latter stages of a CRM implementation programme. This definitely isn't the kind of assignment for a passive box-ticker. On the contrary, you'll need to be able to demonstrate oodles of been-there-done-that experience in this field and a hands-on, creative approach to transfo...
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  • 17.06.2026

    Head of Communications (6x month FTC), Charity Sector, London

    • Location: London
    • Type: 6 Month FTC / Hybrid
    • Salary: Up to £70,000
    • Specialism: Corporate Communications, Healthcare Communications, Not for Profit Communications, Public Sector Communications
    The Interim Head of Communications Role We're looking for an assured, highly-credible Head of Communications to support our client – one of the UK's largest & high-profile charities – on an interim basis for the next 6x months. This is the kind of uncommon interim assignment in which you'll get to do the kind of work that directly impacts huge numbers of ...
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  • 16.06.2026

    Vice President of Media Relations, Abu Dhabi

    • Location: Abu Dhabi
    • Type: Permanent
    • Salary: AED 85,000 – AED 95,000 per month
    • Specialism: Corporate Communications, PR & Comms
    We are working with a leading global organisation headquartered in Abu Dhabi on a search for a Vice President of Media Relations. This is a senior leadership appointment for an exceptional communications professional who has operated at the highest levels of international media relations and crisis communications, someone who has genuinely been in the thick of it and come out stronger. This is a rare opportunity to join a high...
    View job & apply
  • 12.06.2026

    Public Affairs Adviser (12x month FTC), London Non-Profit

    • Location: London
    • Salary: Circa £50,000 per annum
    • Specialism: Public Affairs, Government Relations & Policy
    Interim Public Affairs Adviser | London Non-Profit We're looking for a brilliant Public Affairs Adviser to join up with our client, a non-profit organisation at the intersection of FS, public policy & social impact, on an interim basis for the next 12 months. ...
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  • 09.06.2026

    Director/Senior Director of Communications, Global Conglomerate

    • Location: London
    • Type: Permanent
    • Salary: Competitive
    • Specialism: Corporate Communications
    A rare in-house opportunity for a senior communications professional to join one of the world's most ambitious and fast-moving private conglomerates at a pivotal moment in its global expansion.  This organisation has deep roots in real estate and infrastructure, but has in recent years made headline-grabbing moves into technology and AI — with $20 billion dollar investment...
    View job & apply
  • 03.06.2026

    Director of Marketing, Arabic Speaking, UAE

    • Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
    • Type: Permanent
    • Salary: Competitive Package
    • Specialism: Marketing
    Role Overview We are working with a leading organisation to appoint an Arabic-speaking Director of Marketing — a senior, high-impact role responsible for shaping and executing a comprehensive brand, marketing, and communications strategy across a diverse portfolio of brands.
    View job & apply
  • 28.05.2026

    Chief Creative Officer, Marketing Agency, Riyadh  

    • Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
    • Type: Permanent
    • Salary: Highly competitive, aligned with international industry standards for senior creative leadership.
    • Specialism: C-suite & Advisory, Marketing
    Chief Creative Officer — Riyadh  We're working with a newly established, research-based, strategy-led marketing agency in Riyadh to find a founding Chief Creative Officer. Backed by one of Saudi Arabia's most respected and diversified conglomerates, this agency is being built from the ground up to redefine the intersection of culture, strategy, and creativity across the MENAT region...
    View job & apply

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    Introducing
    Our Recruitment Experts

    Our team possesses a unique blend of industry expertise, advanced recruitment acumen, and professional assessment skills on a global scale. With an in-depth understanding of the market, we are perfectly positioned to help you hire the best talent that you need

    Meet the team

    • Global CEO, Regional Head of MENA

      Alice Weightman

      Alice Weightman: CEO, Global Executive Search Leader, and UAE Market Expert: Alice Weightman is the Founder and CEO of Hanson...

    • UK & Europe Managing Partner, Global Head of Public Affairs

      Janie Emmerson

      Janie Emmerson: Janie leads our UK and European teams and offices from our London base, guiding and supporting their work across...

    • Managing Partner, Global Head of Corporate Affairs

      Katie Simpson

      Katie Simpson: Katie specialises in senior, global executive search across Corporate Affairs and Communications, with particular depth in the UK...

    • Managing Partner, Global Head of Healthcare & Communications

      Amy Hayer

      Amy Hayer: Amy is an executive search professional with over 15 years of experience building and scaling high-performing teams across...

    • Partner, European Head of Public Affairs and Communications

      Barbara Ozanon

      Barbara Ozanon: With over a decade of experience in recruitment, executive search, and headhunting, Barbara Ozanon leads Hanson Search’s European...

    • Principal consultant, Sales & Marketing

      Nils Gerardin

      Nils Gerardin: Nils brings almost ten years of search experience and talent management consulting in France and cross-border for start-ups...

    • Search Director, MENA

      Amanda Dowie

      Amanda Dowie : MENA Search Director Amanda Dowie is an accomplished executive search specialist with over 20 years of global...

    • Head of Interim Marketing and Management Recruitment Services

      Madeleine Weightman

      Madeleine Weightman: Madeleine is Head of Interim Marketing and Management Recruitment and co-Founder of The Work Crowd, the sister company...

    • Principal Consultant, Communications, Marketing & Digital Marketing

      Helena Ranger

      Helena Ranger: As Principal Consultant leading the Consumer division across PR and Brand Marketing, Helena has played a pivotal role...

    • UK Marketing Lead

      Daniela Mamica

      Daniela Mamica: Daniela is UK Marketing Lead, working across senior and leadership level roles. She brings a wealth of experience,...

    • Director, Hanson Capital MENA

      Alice Maltby

      Alice Maltby : Director, Investor Markets, UAE Alice Maltby is a Director at Hanson Search MENA, working within the firm’s...

    • Managing Consultant, Public Affairs & Policy, UK & USA

      Peter Ferguson

      Peter Ferguson: As a Managing Consultant in the Public Affairs Practice, Peter advises and supports industry leaders across highly regulated...

    • Head of Corporate and Financial

      Allyson Kurian

      Allyson Kurian: Originally from the US, Allyson specialises in corporate affairs and financial communications, working across both the US and...

    • Head of Corporate & Brand Communications, Europe

      Camille Chevallier

      Camille Chevallier: With over 20 years of senior communications experience across Europe, Camille has held leadership roles at agencies and...

    • Head of Interim Communications

      Ben Mitchell

      Ben Mitchell: Head of Interim Communications Ben is Head of Interim Communications and works across both Hanson Search and our...

    • Associate Director, MENA

      Lexi Smith-Muller

      Lexi Smith-Muller: Lexi is an executive search specialist with over 12 years of recruitment experience across the UK and Middle...

    • Senior Researcher

      Arlena Butt

      Arlena Butt: Arlena is a Senior Researcher at Hanson Search, with three years of experience supporting executive search across Public...

    • Researcher, MENA

      Nevena Ilievska

      Nevena Ilievska: With a degree in Psychology and nearly four years of experience in talent acquisition and research, Nevena has...

    • Researcher

      Fani Mateska

      Fani Mateska: With over four years’ experience in recruitment consultancy, Fani joined Hanson Search in July 2025, bringing expertise from...

    • Researcher

      Ivana Cilevska

      Ivana Cilevska Ivana Cilevska is a Researcher at Hanson Search, supporting the European team across client mandates and contributing to...

    • Marketing Content Executive

      Reg Wheeler

      Reg Wheeler: Reg is a Marketing Content Executive at Hanson Search, supporting a range of marketing and content initiatives across...

    • Associate Director of Operations & Inclusion

      Robyn Field

      Robyn Field: As Associate Director of Operations & Inclusion, Robyn is responsible for all business and administrative operations at Hanson...

    • Marketing Lead

      Sam White

      Sam White: Marketing Lead Sam White joined Hanson Search in 2016, initially working as an internal recruiter after gaining experience...

    • Business Support

      Mirjana R.Dejanovska

      Mirjana Dejanovska: Mirjana is Talent Strategist & Customer Success Manager at our sister company, The Work Crowd. Mirjana joined Hanson...

    • Business Support

      Ivana Stevanovska

      Ivana Stevanovska: Ivana is Community and Marketing Executive at our sister company, The Work Crowd. As well as being highly...

    • Advisor

      Nicholas Watkins

      Nicholas Watkins: Nicholas has over 30 years of business leadership experience that combines successful careers in the media, leisure and...

    • Advisor

      Michelle Milbourn

      Michelle Milbourn: Advisor Michelle is a seasoned executive search specialist with two decades of experience supporting founders and investors across...

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    What people say about us

    Hanson Search’s knowledge of the market is up to date and accurate, they understand day to day needs for their clients, but their real USP is the ability to introduce talent that enables ambition & growth.

    Talent Partner, Blakeney

    Hanson Search is a trusted and valued recruitment partner to MHP Group. They know the business and the teams they work across well and always strive to provide us with the most high-quality candidates.

    Talent Partner, MHP Group

    The Hanson Search team truly places quality over quantity and it’s refreshing. Their robust screening process means that you may only view a handful of candidates but each one of them has something to offer the role.

    Head of Campaigns, Third Bridge

    Hanson Search has been instrumental in identifying and recruiting senior executives for RAK Tourism. They deeply understood the nature of the roles and people we need and provided excellent candidates.

    CEO, RAK Tourism

    Hanson Search quickly ‘got’ us. They were proactive in their search and responsive in their service right from the outset. Very happy client.

    MD, firstlightPR, Paul Davies

    Hanson Search understands our business and is able to identify very strong candidates at all levels.

    Managing Partner, Brunswick Group - Gulf, Rupert Young

    I’ve worked with headhunters for the past 20 years, but I’ve found Hanson Search has a better understanding of how to attract and secure the right talent for our market.

    CEO, Hanover, Charles Lewington