Practice summary
Our attorneys are equipped with a wealth of expertise and an innate understanding of regional concerns, which enables us to tackle the emergence of new configurations, the latest in equity markets and debt capital, and address at-risk projects. With the growing demand for project financing in the region, our team stays current with the latest best practices in project finance and possesses a comprehensive understanding of large-scale and bespoke projects.
We have advised a wide range of clients — public and private bodies, AEC stakeholders, ECAs, multilaterals, financiers and sponsors — demonstrating our versatility and ability to provide tailored solutions. Our attorneys possess first-hand experience with some of the most notable infrastructure projects in the country, and have been instrumental in their success.
The key takeaway
Bankability is set in the project documents, not the loan documents. The single most consequential thing a sponsor can do is engage finance counsel before the EPC contract is signed — not after.
Our expertise
How we work
Sponsor-side: bankable from day one
For sponsors, the most expensive moment is when lenders ask for changes to project documents already signed with EPC contractors and offtakers. We embed bankability into the project documents at first draft — getting force majeure, change-in-law, LDs, step-in and termination compensation right before the bid is even submitted.
Lender-side: limited recourse, real protections
For lenders we focus on what matters when projects underperform: completion support architecture, financial-covenant headroom, lock-up triggers, distribution waterfall, and step-in rights that are practically enforceable in the UAE legal environment. Our intercreditor work is particularly experienced for hybrid conventional-Islamic tranches.
ECAs and DFIs
For ECA-supported and DFI-co-financed transactions we coordinate the documentation requirements of multiple lender groups — EKF, K-Sure, JBIC, IFC, EBRD and others — into a single execution timetable that respects each institution's distinctive requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of project finance deals do you advise on?
Greenfield, refinancings, brownfield acquisitions and recycled-asset structures across power and water (IPP, IWP, IWPP), renewables (solar PV, wind, green hydrogen), oil and gas midstream and downstream, transportation, social infrastructure and industrial platforms. Acting for sponsors, lenders, ECAs and offtakers.
What is bankability and why does it matter?
Bankability is the test of whether a project can attract limited-recourse financing on acceptable terms. It looks at risk allocation across the project documents and asks whether each major risk has been allocated to the party best able to manage it. We drive bankability into the underlying contracts before lender mandates are finalised.
How is risk allocated in a UAE project financing?
Across five matrices — completion, operating, supply, demand and political/regulatory. UAE projects benefit from strong sovereign-linked offtakers (DEWA, EWEC, ADNOC). Most-negotiated risks: change-in-law, force majeure, market-disruption and step-in rights.
Can a UAE project be financed in conventional and Islamic tranches simultaneously?
Yes — and many large UAE infrastructure financings combine conventional senior debt with Istisna'a/Ijarah tranches. We structure parallel-tranche, common-security architectures with intercreditor mechanics aligning both lender groups.
Do you advise on procurement and PPP arrangements?
Yes. Federal PPP framework (Decree-Law 12 of 2020) and emirate-level regimes (Dubai Law 22 of 2015; Abu Dhabi Law 2 of 2019). We advise procuring entities, sponsors and lenders across the full PPP lifecycle.
How long does project financial close typically take?
Mandate to financial close typically 6 to 12 months. Pre-existing templates (DEWA solar IPPs) compress the timetable; ECA-co-financed deals extend it. We project-manage the workstream with weekly trackers.
Last updated: 28 April 2026. General information only — not legal advice. Contact us for matter-specific advice.