Professional Profile
Ziad Salloum, OSI, KSS, MCIArb is an award-winning legal advisor and arbitrator. Since joining Salloum & Partners LLC in 2006, Ziad has provided specialist support to UAE and foreign government entities, top multinational and local companies, educational institutions, financial institutions, entrepreneurs and leading business-owning families. He has advised on matters in various fields such as: commercial contracts, employment, secured/unsecured lending, restructuring, strategic and structural planning, M&A, dispute resolution, succession planning, corporate governance and family office setup.
Ziad sits on numerous boards, including those of two school groups (the Lycee Theodore Monod, and the St Mary’s Group of Schools) and of the Alliance Française Abu Dhabi. He recently retired from the board of the French Business Group (where he served 3 non-consecutive terms) and from the board of the International Lawyers Network (where he served two consecutive 3-year terms). He also notably served on the Boards of the Union of French Expatriates’ (UFE) Abu Dhabi chapter and the Advisory Board of the Emirati-Swiss Friendship Forum.
Ziad is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) and is on the roll of arbitrators of the Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation & Arbitration Center (ADCCAC). Ziad is also a Professional Associate with Outer Temple Chambers.
Before converting to law, Ziad had a successful banking career, first in Treasury and Capital Markets, then in Private Banking.
He holds an LLM from SOAS, a PgDL from the University of East Anglia, an LLB from the Lebanese University and a BBA from the American University of Beirut.
Ziad is fluent in English, French, Arabic and Italian.
Ziad is also a keen photographer. He has been invited to exhibit his art at high-profile venues in the Middle East. His photography has also been featured and auctioned at charity fundraisers and environmental awareness initiatives. During the height of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ziad and his children began a lego photo project which was featured in the news, and which they are sharing on Instagram.
In 2017, in recognition of his community work and services to the Catholic Church and wider community, The Vatican awarded him a knighthood with the Pontifical Order of St. Sylvester.
In December 2020, the Embassy of the Republic of Argentina issued him with an award in recognition of his dedication and services over the years.
In June 2021, Ziad was invested with a knighthood by the Republic of Italy, naming him a Knight Officer in the Order of the Star of Italy (OSI).