Dentons Middle East strengthens Qatari Banking & Finance offering with the relocation of Riza Ismail

Dubai-Dentons Middle East is strategically leveraging its region-wide Banking & Finance bench with the relocation of experienced Counsel Riza Ismail in response to growing local client demand for financial services expertise.

Riza relocated from Dentons' Muscat office in Oman to its Doha office in Qatar in February this year.

Riza has more than 20 years' experience working on a range of banking and finance matters, with particular emphasis on Islamic finance, capital markets - including local and international bonds and Sukuk issuances - project finance, corporate banking (bilateral and syndicated loans) and investment funds.

Her experience includes being directly involved in and responsible for groundbreaking and award-winning Islamic finance transactions in Oman, and her expertise will help bolster the Firm's offering for banking clients in Doha.

While Riza will predominantly be focusing on advising Dentons' Qatari clients, she will continue to support the Firm's wider Middle East Banking & Finance practice in response to growing region-wide client needs.

Riza's move to Qatar is the latest in a line of new senior appointments for Dentons' Middle East Banking & Finance practice, following the appointment of Partner Ahmed Butt in Dubai in January 2025; the relocation of Debt Capital Markets Partner Victoria Wyer who joined the Dubai office from London in September 2025; the appointment of Partner Ali Moiz Ansari in Riyadh in October 2025; the appointment of Capital Markets Partner Peter Cullen in Dubai in January 2026; and the appointment of Counsel Justine Harding in Muscat in January 2026.

Stephen Knight, Partner and Head of Dentons' Middle East Banking & Finance practice, said: "It's great to have someone of Riza's experience and flexibility relocate and provide exceptional service to our Qatari clients. The recent investments we have made into our senior Banking & Finance team means we are one of very few firms in the region able to offer such comprehensive coverage for financial services clients across the seven offices in the region and we will continue to build on this advantage."

Gabriel Olufemi, Managing Partner for Dentons' Doha office, said: "We warmly welcome Riza to Doha and look forward to benefiting from her experience and client relationship skills. Doha is becoming an increasingly important centre for international legal expertise and Riza's ability to advise banking and finance clients will be greatly valued."

Riza Ismail, Banking & Finance Counsel, added: "I'm delighted to be relocating to Doha at a time of continued growth in Qatar's financial services sector. I look forward to supporting clients locally while continuing to contribute to Dentons' strong regional Banking & Finance practice."

Dentons has seven offices in the Middle East, based in: Amman; Abu Dhabi; Doha; Dubai; Jeddah; Muscat; and Riyadh.

The Firm has had a presence in the region for more than 50 years and an established network of offices that allows it to provide local support to clients backed by international capability and reach.

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