Maaz Shahzad
Associate
mshahzad@akingump.com
Areas of Focus
- Project Debt & Equity Finance
- Corporate & Finance
- Mergers & Acquisitions
Biography
- Corporate associate based in Akin’s Abu Dhabi office.
- Will be part of the team launching the firm’s office in Riyadh, expected to open later this year.
- Advises government entities, sponsors, financial institutions, corporate clients on project finance transactions across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East region.
- Has a track record in working on award-winning projects in the Middle East, particularly involving asset-backed finance and Export Credit Agency (ECA) finance structures.
Maaz is an associate in the corporate team in Abu Dhabi, with a focus on project finance. He works closely with senior partners on complex project finance transactions across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East region. His experience includes advising government entities, sponsors, financial institutions and corporate clients on a range of energy and infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on the energy and tourism projects.
Representative Work
- Representation of NEOM Green Hydrogen Company on the US$8.4 billion non‑recourse, multi‑tranche project financing achieving financial close in May 2023. The financing secured the world’s largest green hydrogen/ammonia facility, was certified under S&P Global Green Loan Principles, earning the “Project Finance Deal of the Year”, IFLR Middle East Awards 2023 and “Energy Transition Deal of the Year (MENA)”, IJGlobal Awards 2023.
- Representation of the Government of Pakistan in landmark post-award settlement in relation to the Reko Diq mine following the US$6 billion ICSID arbitral award in July 2019.
- Ongoing representation of Red Sea Global, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PIF, on the SAR 14.2 billion financing of Phase One of The Red Sea Project. This deal was recognized as "Project Finance Deal of the Year" by Capital Markets Saudi Arabia Awards 2021. This landmark transaction was the first Riyal‑denominated “Green Financing” facility in the region.
- Representation of Red Sea Global and the project company in relation to the joint venture with Kingdom Holding Company and SAR 2 billion debt financing led by Riyad Bank for the Four Seasons Resort on Shura Island in 2024. The resort is featured in Phase One’s lineup of luxury hotels, a marina, residential offerings and entertainment infrastructure.
- Representation of Red Sea Global and the project company for the joint venture with Al Mutlaq Group and SAR 1 billion financing of the Jumeirah The Red Sea.
- Representation of Emirates Water and Electricity Company in negotiating the 15‑year Power and Water Purchase Agreement extension and reconfiguration of Shuweihat 1 from cogeneration to a natural gas‑fired open‑cycle power plant providing up to 1.1 GW of flexible reserve capacity.
List may include matters worked on prior to joining Akin.
EducationL.P.C., BPP University Law School, England
LL.B., Trinity College, Cambridge
Master of Arts in Law, University of Cambridge
L.P.C., BPP University Law School, England
LL.B., Trinity College, Cambridge
Master of Arts in Law, University of Cambridge
Bar AdmissionsSolicitor, England and Wales
Solicitor, England and Wales
