Taylor Wessing has boosted its Middle Eastern offering, as it enters into an association with Saudi Arabian law firm Al Sulaim Al Awaji & Partners.

Al Sulaim Al Awaji has four partners based across two offices in Riyadh and Jeddah.

Taylor Wessing's only current Middle East base is its office in Dubai, which has five partners and a total of 17 lawyers.

Tim Eyles, managing partner of Taylor Wessing, said: "This is a really exciting opportunity for our respective firms and enables us to put the strength of our global family at the disposal of a broader range of clients."

Taylor Wessing merged with Dubai ally Key & Dixon in 2008, having establishing a formal association with the boutique in 2003.

In November 2013, Legal Week reported that Taylor Wessing was considering launches in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar through local tie-ups.

In October that year, the firm appointed Mark Fraser as its Middle East managing partner. Dubai-based construction partner Fraser joined Taylor Wessing in 2010 from legacy Hammonds.

Earlier this month, Taylor Wessing hired senior media and technology partner Angus Finnegan from Reed Smith as head of the firm's UK communications group.

His appointment boosts Taylor Wessing's global TMT group to more than 250 lawyers.

At the start of this year, the firm hired King & Wood Mallesons chief operating officer Rachel Reid.