Herbert Smith is to launch a finance practice in Saudi Arabia with the relocation of Dubai-based senior associate Adil Hussain to Riyadh.

Hussain joined the UK top 10 firm in November from Sharia-compliant City investment bank Gatehouse Bank, where he was general counsel.

Hussain will report directly to Dubai-based Islamic finance head Nadim Khan.

Khan commented: "The Kingdom is the world's largest market for Sharia-compliant products. Having a lawyer such as Adil based in the capital is an exciting prospect and will bring a new dimension to our Islamic finance practice."

Hussain added: "Herbert Smith is one of the Middle East's top firms for Islamic finance and I am looking forward to helping the firm continue to grow in this area."

Last November Herbert Smith announced that it was to move Christopher Rees, the co-head of its technology. media and telecoms practice, to Riyadh from London. Rees is set to make the move in March.

Herbert Smith arrived in the Middle East in 2007, opening offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which now house a total of 10 partners.

Towards the end of last year the the Dubai International Finance Centre awarded Herbert Smith alliance firm Stibbe a licence to practise in the emirate.