Gordon Barr

The 2025 Healthcare Odyssey

Welcome to the first edition of Law Update for 2025. As we begin this exciting year, we are pleased to turn our attention to one of the most dynamic sectors in the UAE and the broader GCC region – healthcare. Over the past several years, the region has seen unprecedented growth in this sector, driven by legislative advancements, technological innovations, and the increasing focus on sustainability and AI. As such, healthcare is set to be one of the most important sectors in the coming decade.

In this issue, we explore key themes that are significantly shaping the future of healthcare in the UAE, such as recent changes in foreign ownership laws. These reforms present a major opportunity for foreign investors, opening up new avenues for international collaborations and improving the overall healthcare infrastructure. The changes in ownership laws are an important milestone, and we provide an analysis of what this means for the industry and the various players involved.

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Eyes
On 2025

Legal Updates in
Middle East & North Africa

2025 is set to be a game-changer for the MENA region, with legal and regulatory shifts from 2024 continuing to reshape its economic landscape. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain are all implementing groundbreaking reforms in sustainable financing, investment laws, labor regulations, and dispute resolution. As the region positions itself for deeper global integration, businesses must adapt to a rapidly evolving legal environment.

Our Eyes on 2025 publication provides essential insights and practical guidance on the key legal updates shaping the year ahead—equipping you with the knowledge to stay ahead in this dynamic market.

The leading law firm in the Middle East & North Africa region.

Gordon Barr

Partner

Biography

Gordon is a Partner within Al Tamimi & Company’s Employment & Incentives practice and has worked in the Middle East since 2011. He previously worked with a leading UK law firm, acting for a wide range of blue chip clients for whom he appeared before Employment Tribunals throughout the UK. Prior to a career in law, Gordon spent several years in financial services.

Gordon advises on the full spectrum of employment and immigration law issues throughout the employment life cycle with a particular focus on disputes, whether before the UAE or DIFC Courts. In respect to the latter, Gordon is a DIFC registered practitioner with full rights of audience.

A key part of Gordon’s practice involves compensation and benefits advice where he advises across all sectors and with a specific focus upon banking, financial services and technology.

Gordon is a ranked lawyer with Chambers and Partners, who noted:

Gordon Barr is highly regarded by both peers and clients, who highlight his extensive experience in the market. One satisfied client remarked: “Gordon is very professional and has vast knowledge of DIFC employment laws. He always provides the right legal guidance and has good interpersonal skills.” Peers also “rate him very highly,” explaining: “He has been an employment lawyer his entire career,” elaborating that because of this, “he sees the bigger picture and is very pragmatic and practical”.

Gordon is a regular speaker via UAE media outlets and at industry events, and has contributed to a number of significant legal publications.

Recent Experience

Leading a team providing support to a significant DIFC Bank in the context of a multi employee investigation and the associated regulatory and PR considerations.
Providing employment advice in respect of a transaction within the pharma sector being the largest asset swap transaction to date.
Advising a leading multinational technology company on the acquisition of a competitor and the resultant ongoing harmonization exercise.
Advising a number of clients on the introduction of employee share option plans, LTIPs and phantom share schemes.