Dr. Ihab Arja
About
A leading authority in aviation law, Dr. Ihab Arja brings deep expertise in aircraft finance, complex litigation, regulatory frameworks, and international aviation policy, earning recognition as a speaker, author, and advisor to global institutions.
Dr. Ihab Arja is a globally recognized attorney-at-law and aviation sector expert. Holding a PhD, he specializes in high-profile litigation, aircraft finance & leasing, regulation, accident investigations, and business aviation. Ihab is a sought-after speaker at international aviation conferences and a published author on topics including commercial aviation developments, environmental regulation, and the Cape Town Convention.
During his career, he has been actively involved in a full range of legal matters arising in the aviation industry, including drafting aviation legislations, participating in major Privatization and Public– Private Partnership projects, delivering regulatory consultations & proceedings, handling general aviation and commercial issues including sale, purchase and lease of aircraft transactions, aircraft & air navigation services’ insurance and reinsurance, and other environment, security & safety issues.
Ihab has addressed numerous conferences on aviation law and aircraft financing & leasing in the Middle East, Europe and Canada, and published on a variety of issues, including commercial aviation developments, environmental regulation impacting the aviation sector and the Cape Town Convention and its Aircraft Protocol.
He serves as a distinguished member of ICAO’s Commision of Experts (CESAIR) for the Supervisory Authority of the International Registry under the Cape Town Convention and its Aircraft Protocol.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Education & Honors
- Ph.D. in Aircraft Financing (Cape Town Convention & AircraftProtocol perspective), La Sapienza University of Rome.
- LL.M. Master of Laws in International Commercial Law(Distinction), 2015.
- International Air Law Diploma (Distinction), 2011.
- LL.B. Bachelor of Laws.
- Selected by Chambers & Partners to contribute to the Global Guide on UAE Aviation and Commercial Law 2025
- A published contributor to The International Aviation Finance & Leasing Review 2024/25, co authoring the United Arab Emirates section alongside Amna Al Jallaf.
- Member of the Commission of Experts of the Supervisory Authority of the International Registry (CESAIR) under the auspices of ICAO for the Cape Town Convention
- Twice honored with the International Advisory Experts Award as “Aviation Lawyer in the United Arab Emirates” (2019 & 2021)
Court admissions and affiliations
- Licensed Legal Consultant by the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department (2017)
- Member of the ICAO’s Commission of Experts of the Supervisory Authority of the International Registry (CESAIR) for the purposes of the Cape Town Convention (CTC) and the Aircraft Protocol attached thereto. (2015)
- Appointed Observer for the Middle East Working Group for the Cape Town Convention, by the Aviation Working Group. (2014)
- Licensed Attorney-at-Law
Selected Experience
- Advising international airlines and operators on regulatory compliance, licensing, and commercial operations across the UAE, EU, and multiple offshore jurisdictions.
- Acting as lead counsel on cross border aircraft financing and leasing transactions, including Cape Town Convention structured deals and high value fleet acquisitions.
- Serving as escrow agent for multiple international aircraft sale and delivery settlements, ensuring secure, compliant, and timely closing of multi jurisdictional transactions.
- Representing aviation clients in complex disputes, including regulatory challenges, contractual claims, and arbitration matters involving UAE and foreign counterparties.
- Advising financial institutions, lessors, and private investors on structuring SPVs, trusts, and asset holding vehicles in the UAE, DIFC, ADGM, and key global jurisdictions.
- Drafting and negotiating shareholders’ agreements, investment structures, and governance frameworks for multinational clients establishing operations in the UAE.
- Providing regulatory and strategic guidance on sanctions sensitive transactions, beneficial ownership, AML compliance, and cross border fund flows.
Publications, speeches and presentations
- Published article: “Navigating the Turbulent Skies: Common Carrier Liability in the Age of Airline Alliances and Digital Transformation” in ASJ – The Aviation & Space Journal (2025).
- Authored Nota a Sentenza: “Willful misconduct of the air carrier and its principals does not result in forfeiture of the two year statute of limitations under Article 29 of the 1929 Warsaw Convention and Article 35 of the 1999 Montreal Convention. A confirmation from U.S. case law”, published in Diritto dei Trasporti (Istituto di Diritto della Navigazione, Sapienza University of Rome), a Category A academic journal.
- “Global Approach to Environmental Policy and Regulation on Aviation” (Research), LUISS University, Rome - Italy, 2017.
- “Protecting the National Interests’ Creditors under CTC and the Aircraft Protocol” (Research), the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), Rome - Italy, 2016.
- “The Cape Town Convention’s Aircraft Protocol” (Re- search), the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, Laus- anne-Switzerland, 2014.
- “Security Interests and Remedies protecting Creditors under the Cape Town Convention & Aircraft Protocol” (LL.M. Thesis), UNIDROIT, Rome – Italy, 2014.
Languages
- English
- Italian
- Arabic