
Maaz Shahzad
Associate
Areas of Focus
- Project Debt & Equity Finance
- Corporate & Finance
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Corporate associate based in Akin’s Riyadh and Abu Dhabi offices.
- Advises government entities, sponsors, financial institutions and corporate clients on project finance transactions across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East region.
- Has a track record of 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 on the corporate team in Akin’s Riyadh and Abu Dhabi offices. With a focus on project finance, Maaz represents public and private clients on domestic transactions, and outbound investments and opportunities throughout the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa.
Maaz advises on complex project finance transactions across sectors and geographies, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the wider Middle East region.
His experience includes advising government entities, sponsors, financial institutions and corporate clients on a range of energy & infrastructure projects, with a particular focus on energy and tourism projects.
- Represented NEOM Green Hydrogen Company on the $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.
- Represented the Government of Pakistan in a landmark post-award settlement in relation to the Reko Diq mine following the $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.
- Represented 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.
- Represented 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.
- Represented 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