Biography
Professor of Law | International Mediator
Convener, The Global Majlis
Honorary Professor, University of St Andrews
Professor Malik R. Āl Dahlan is a Mecca-born legal philosopher, international mediator, and institution-builder whose work bridges law, ethics, and global governance. Educated across traditions, he holds graduate degrees from Harvard University and the University of Cambridge, and a habilitation doctorate (Prof. Dr. jur) from Al-Azhar University—a formation that uniquely unites Western legal rationalism with Islamic jurisprudential depth.
A pioneer of global mediation, he has advised governments and international organisations on disputes ranging from energy transition to post-conflict reconstruction. Professor Dahlan’s career has unfolded at the intersection of the rule of law and mediation. Trained in the English common law tradition under Lord Woolf, he has served as an advisor to institutions from the United Nations to the BRICS dialogue, and founded the Scotia Group, which convened jurists and policymakers to shape ethical frameworks for global climate and AI governance.
Together with Scotia Rand (RAND Europe), he co-authored the Roadmap for a Global Energy Transition, launched at the United Nations General Assembly, pioneering new legal and financial instruments for decarbonization and just transition. At the University of St Andrews, Professor Dahlan leads The Global Majlis and Knowledge Economy 2045 (KE2045) initiative, advancing legal architectures for the transition from industrial to knowledge-based economies. His work has received affirmations from both China and the United States, reflecting his ability to mediate across civilizations at a moment of systemic change.
Rooted in the intellectual and ethical heritage of Mecca, Professor Dahlan approaches law as a practice of conscience—where mediation is not merely dispute resolution, but a means of restoring legitimacy, dignity, and order to fractured systems.