RICS in UAE: An overview and discussion on the updated Abu Dhabi General Conditions of Contract

Dr John Fletcher

Executive Director, Dispute Resolution, RICS

Dr John Fletcher was born in South Africa took his B Com LLB from Rhodes University and his M Phil and PhD in administrative law from Cambridge. He returned to SA and practised as a barrister at the Johannesburg Bar for ten years in a civil commercial practice with some constitutional work. John is the Executive Director of Dispute Resolution of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and is responsible for RICS’s international dispute resolution services including arbitration, adjudication, dispute boards, mediation and expert witnesses. Prior to working for RICS, John was the Projects Director for ADR Group. He developed their international joint ventures in South Africa, Europe, Brazil, the Caribbean and other developing countries; their UK workplace mediation service; and their mediation training in UK universities.

Fatima Balfaqeeh, MRICS

Managing Partner, Balfaqueeh Law

Fatima Balfaqeeh is a UAE-certified advocate specializing in arbitration, mediation, and business consulting. Her critical thinking skills and ability to provide innovative solutions are matched by her commitment to building strong and trustworthy relationships with clients on a personal level. Fatima is an Adjunct Lecturer in Law in Middlesex University Dubai and has over 20 years of experience working in government and semi-government entities in Abu Dhabi, where she led contract and procurement functions with a focus on dispute avoidance and corporate governance. She has extensive experience in commercial, legal, and operational matters across various sectors, including construction, finance, and banking. After pursuing a law degree, Fatima became a certified independent arbitrator and commercial mediator. She is a Chartered Arbitrator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), a member and Chartered Facilities Management Surveyor of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS). Fatima is a highly respected advisor in the ADR, legal, and governance fields and holds many posts with national and international organizations. In 2018, Fatima founded her consultancy, which later evolved into a fully-fledged law firm operating in the UAE.

Haroon Niazi FRICS

Haroon is a chartered quantity surveyor with more than 18 years of experience in the construction industry. as part of his current role at HKA he leads the Construction Claims and Expert Service Line across the Europe, Middle East and Africa region comprising a team of over 200 consultants. He is dual qualified as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor (FRICS) and as a barrister; therefore, well placed to provide advice and opinion in relation to the most complex of construction disputes. He has been appointed as a quantum expert and provided expert testimony in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Haroon has experience in all forms of dispute resolution and excellent knowledge of the JCT, NEC, FIDIC and MPW contracts in Kuwait; the Saudi Public Works Contract; and the Saudi Aramco standard form contracts, as well as various ad hoc contracts. Haroon specialises in the quantification of construction cost claims and he supports clients across various market sectors, from power, oil and gas to major buildings and infrastructure projects. Haroon holds a masters in both law and quantity surveying. He is a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple. Haroon was awarded HKA’s 2014 Worldwide Consultant of the year award for his achievements and has been named one of the top 100 most influential construction leaders in the Middle East by Construction Week. Haroon is the Chair for the World Regional Board, Middle East and Africa of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Suzannah Fairbairn

Dean Ryburn