Question 1

What energy work do you handle in the UAE?

Accepted Answer

We advise across the full UAE energy value chain — upstream oil and gas (concessions, joint venture and unitisation arrangements, oilfield services contracts), midstream (pipeline and processing infrastructure), downstream (refineries, petrochemicals, distribution), conventional power generation (gas-fired CCGT, IPP/IWPP), renewables (utility-scale solar PV, wind, green hydrogen, energy storage), nuclear (where lawful), and trading and offtake. We act for international oil companies, national oil companies, IPP sponsors, lenders, ECAs, governments and offtakers.

Question 2

Who regulates the UAE energy sector?

Accepted Answer

The UAE energy sector is regulated through a combination of federal and emirate-level bodies. ADNOC, supervised by the Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC), governs upstream and downstream hydrocarbon operations in Abu Dhabi. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) regulates nuclear. The Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) is the principal off-taker in Abu Dhabi for utility-scale power and water, and DEWA performs the parallel role in Dubai. The Department of Energy in Abu Dhabi sets the regulatory framework for power, water and waste in the emirate. Each emirate has its own regulatory and procurement architecture; the IWPP procurement model has been particularly successful for UAE utility-scale generation.

Question 3

How are UAE IWPPs structured?

Accepted Answer

The UAE Independent Water and Power Producer (IWPP) model has been the leading procurement structure for utility-scale generation. The project company is typically a joint venture between the offtaker (EWEC or DEWA), an international developer-led consortium and a local financing partner. The project company sells capacity and energy to the off-taker under a long-term Power and Water Purchase Agreement (PWPA), built around availability-based payment for the capacity tranche and energy tariffs for the variable component. Recent UAE solar PV IPPs (e.g., Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, Al Dhafra) have set global record-low tariffs and are bankable from highly templated documentation.

Question 4

Do you advise on green hydrogen and energy transition?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Green hydrogen and the broader energy-transition agenda are increasingly central to UAE energy mandates. We advise on green hydrogen and ammonia projects (electrolyser supply, offtake to ammonia/methanol manufacturers, port and logistics arrangements), carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, and energy storage (battery and pumped hydro). The legal architecture is still developing — the offtake market for green molecules is largely export-driven, and structuring is therefore deeply tied to long-term offtake credit and shipping logistics rather than domestic regulation alone.

Question 5

Can you advise on oilfield services agreements?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we advise IOCs, NOCs, oilfield-services contractors and equipment suppliers on the full menu of upstream services agreements: drilling contracts, well-services contracts, completion and stimulation services, integrated services contracts, FPSO and FSO arrangements, equipment leasing and rental, and supply and installation of major capital equipment. Most-negotiated terms are: indemnity and consequential-loss exclusions (knock-for-knock vs. fault-based), insurance architecture, day-rate vs. lump-sum vs. integrated services pricing, and the regulatory disclosure requirements applicable to ADNOC-supervised operations.

Energy counsel for the value chain — upstream to renewables.

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