Middle East & North Africa

Akin lawyers based in our Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices have served as longtime counsel to high-profile clients, both government-related and private sector, on innovative and complex transactions in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region. We also provide counsel to domestic and foreign entities seeking to conduct business within this region.

Our team advises on matters governed by United Arab Emirates (UAE), U.S. and English law, giving us the ability to offer cross-jurisdictional guidance that takes into account the subtleties of each system. Over the years, our lawyers have built robust relationships with key government agencies, regulatory bodies and local law firms, enabling us to even more effectively navigate the local legal terrain.

In the MENA region, we have honed our skills to offer services that address the unique challenges presented by the local business environment. Our in-depth understanding of regional laws, coupled with our wide-ranging international knowledge, allows us to craft practical and innovative solutions for our clients. This focus on the MENA region has enabled us to deliver advice and strategies that are both regionally rooted and globally informed.

Our commitment extends to helping our clients achieve their business objectives in the MENA region. We use our knowledge of the local market, legal knowhow, and strong relationships to devise strategies that not only meet the current needs of our clients, but also anticipate and prepare for future challenges and opportunities.

In summary, Akin’s deep-rooted presence and dedicated focus on the MENA region, supported by a broad global reach, position us as a preferred choice for clients seeking legal services in this dynamic and complex region.

Representative Matters

Advised Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Company (ADWEC) and its parent, Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA), in the development and financing of the 1,177-megawatt (MW) Sweihan Solar PV Independent Power Project in Abu Dhabi.
Advised Capital Investments (DIFC) Ltd. and Capital Investments and Brokerage Company / Jordan Ltd. as the sole structuring agent and manager, respectively, in respect of Capital Bank of Jordan’s inaugural $100-million Reg S perpetual Basel III-compliant additional tier 1 capital securities offering. The issuance is the first-ever additional tier 1 capital securities offering out of Jordan. The capital securities have been admitted to trading on Nasdaq Dubai.
Advised Kuveyt Türk Katilim Bankasi A.S., one of the leading Turkish participation banks majority owned by Kuwait Finance House, on the landmark issuance of $350 million of fixed-rate resettable sustainability tier 2 certificates due 2031, listed on the Irish Stock Exchange plc (Euronext Dublin). This is the world’s first sustainable regulatory capital sukuk issuance.

Advised an ad-hoc committee of sukuk holders of $400-million trust certificates issued by Emirates real estate investment trust (REIT), with respect to a liability management exercise and restructuring of the trust certificates, listed on the Irish Stock Exchange plc (Euronext Dublin).
Represented Bahrain Telecommunications Company on its $158-million acquisition of 20% of the share capital of the Yemen Company for Mobile Telephony (Sabafon) from Sheikh Hamid bin Abdullah Al-Ahmar.
Advised Etisalat on its successful $2.89-billion bid and acquisition of Egypt’s third mobile operator license. Advised Etisalat on all matters relevant to the formation of Etisalat Misr (the Egyptian corporate which currently holds and operates the mobile license) and on the joint venture (JV) arrangements between Etisalat and its bid consortium.
Advised Yahsat, a leading global satellite operator based in the UAE, on the international trade regulatory aspects associated with its acquisition of Dubai-based mobile satellite services operator Thuraya Telecommunications. This was a rare domestic merger between the country’s two satellite operators and significantly expanded Yahsat’s satellite portfolio and global footprint.
Represented Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the largest industrial company in the UAE outside of the oil & gas sector, in connection with the Republic of Guinea’s largest-ever project financing for a greenfield mining project. The $1.6-billion deal represents a step forward for EGA’s bauxite mining project and for Guinea’s economy.

“They are well supported by their international offices and, unlike some other firms in the region, are able to leverage a strong integrated international team.”

— The Legal 500