Samara Iqbal

Spear’s Review

Aramas International Lawyers was established by family lawyer Samara Iqbal in 2020. Catering to UK-based clients from the firm’s Manchester office and expats across the Gulf from offices in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh, Aramas looks to provide legal solutions to complex problems. 

‘Litigating across different jurisdictions can be tricky,’ Iqbal tells Spear’s. ‘People have got so much to worry about, and we’re equipped to give them the advice they need.’ One case on which she acted — and is particularly proud of — was picked up in the Supreme Court and involved a Dubai-based billionaire suffering from dementia, and his partner who was claiming ownership over matrimonial assets. 

Iqbal is a fluent Arabic speaker and Shariah law specialist. She is finding particular success in Doha, which, she says, has few expat lawyers. 

Adviser Profile

Samara Iqbal is a resilient entrepreneur and seasoned global solicitor with over 20 years of experience in International Family Law and a passion for helping families in need navigate challenging domestic circumstances. As a personable and approachable professional she is recognised for her determination to deliver the best results for her clients with comprehensive and customised legal support in various elements of family law including divorce, jurisdiction, finances and children, in the UAE, wider region and globally. 

Samara has dealt with a plethora of cases and developed the company to be one of the rare law firms that specialise in advising international expat divorce and family litigation worldwide for all nationalities, including British citizens. Having started with the head office in Manchester, she now has offices in the UAE and Middle East, with her goal to help expatriates. 

UK born and raised, Samara gained her Master of Arts (MA) in Islamic Education at the University of Winchester, completing part of her formal Islamic studies in Damascus, Syria, making her an Islamic Scholar in the UK. She completed all her examinations at the Islamic Seminary in Arabic and is fluent in Arabic, making her a knowledgeable expert in Sharia Law and Arabic court proceedings. 

Today Samara’s dedication in establishing the firm’s multi-jurisdictional presence enables it to service many expatriate clients in a growing number of countries including France, Spain, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Pakistan, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and the USA. 

Samara is one of the few British lawyers who are fluent in Arabic and experienced in the niche area of divorce litigation in the UAE (mainly the Dubai and Abu Dhabi courts), with first-hand experience of assisting clients with cases in their local courts and thoroughly understanding the litigation process.