Rashid Al Saad is the Founding Partner of Sharq Law Firm and one of Qatar’s foremost corporate and regulatory lawyers. A Qatari-qualified advocate with full rights of audience before the Court of Cassation, he is a trusted adviser to sovereign entities, ministries, financial institutions, and multinational corporations on matters of strategic significance, including cross-border structuring, governance, and regulatory compliance.
Renowned for his expertise in capital markets, M&A, infrastructure, and legislative reform, Rashid draws on extensive public and private sector experience, having previously served as General Counsel at both Qatari Diar and Qatar Railways Company. His ability to navigate complex legal frameworks while balancing policy and commercial objectives positions him as a leading figure in Qatar’s legal landscape.
In addition to his corporate and advisory practice, Rashid leads the firm’s white-collar crime and investigations offering. He regularly advises on financial misconduct, regulatory enforcement, and compliance risk, particularly in matters involving reputational sensitivity or high-net-worth individuals. His practice also extends to contentious tax, insurance, and regulatory disputes.
Rashid maintains an active international disputes practice, frequently acting as counsel in high-value arbitration and litigation under ICC, DIAC, and QICCA rules. He is known for his strategic judgement, discretion, and deep familiarity with Qatari law in cross-border and state-related proceedings.
He is ranked in Chambers Global and recognised by The Legal 500 as a Leading Individual for Corporate, Commercial & M&A. He also appears in the Legal 500 M&A Powerlist – Middle East. Under his leadership, Sharq Law Firm has grown into one of Qatar’s most respected and progressive firms, distinguished by its technical excellence, strategic insight, and commitment to client service.
Advised a leading Qatari insurer on its conversion to a Q.P.S.C. and listing of 2 billion shares on the QSE. This high-profile USD 549 million IPO helped shape Qatar’s capital markets framework and marked a significant step in the evolution of local public shareholding companies.
Acted as Qatari counsel to a sovereign in its inaugural USD 12.5 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme. A first-of-its-kind issuance in Qatar, the matter involved complex cross-border structuring, local law risk assessment, and regulatory coordination to enable access to the London Stock Exchange.
Advised lenders on Qatari law aspects of a USD 10.3 billion cross-border petrochemical financing, including an English law-governed completion guarantee. Innovated a precedent-setting waiver of sovereign immunity and reconciled enforceability between Qatari and English law in one of Qatar’s most complex outbound guarantees to date.
Advised a regional energy group on its IPO and conversion to a Q.P.S.C., with 350 million shares listed on the QSE Venture Market. The USD 56.8 million transaction supports post-World Cup market stability and transparency in Qatar’s oil and gas investment landscape.
- Acted for a UK-headquartered financial services group in its application for a QFC investment banking licence. The cross-border submission involved regulatory strategy, governance planning, and the integration of AI-driven financial services across the UK, Singapore, and Qatar. Matter value: USD 549 million.
- Asset finance
- Banking
- Capital markets: Debt
- Capital markets: Derivatives
- Capital markets: Equity
- Capital markets: High yield
- CLO/CDO
- Competition
- Covered bonds
- Financial restructuring
- Financial services regulatory
- Hedge funds
- Investment funds
- Islamic finance
- M&A
- PPP/PFI
- Private equity
- Private equity funds
- Project bonds
- Project development
- Project finance
- Real estate finance
- Real estate funds
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Securitisation
- Structured finance/securitisation
- Trade finance
- Insurance and Tax
- Accounting
- Agriculture
- Aviation
- Automotive
- Banking
- Construction and materials
- Consumer goods and services
- Energy
- Financial services
- Fisheries and aquaculture
- Food and beverage
- Forestry
- Government and public policy
- Healthcare
- Industrials
- Insurance
- Investment management
- Media
- Mining
- Natural resources
- Oil and gas
- Pharmaceutical and life sciences
- Real estate
- Shipping
- Social infrastructure
- Technology and telecommunications
- Tourism
- Transport
- Utilities
- Insurance and Tax
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Member, the Qatari Bar Admission Committee.
- Member, IBA.
- Member, ICC.
- Bachelor of Law, Qatar University
- Executive MBA, HEC Paris