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Capabilities

Middle East and Islamic Finance and Investment

Our lawyers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh anchor an international team that works on behalf of financial institutions, energy, construction, healthcare, real estate, private equity, shipping and aviation companies seeking to invest or finance commercial projects in compliance with Islamic Shari’ah principles as well as conventional financing. Informed by decades of experience in the Middle East, our Islamic Finance and Investment team guides financial institutions and businesses in navigating the regulatory, political and commercial environment of the region.

Serving Islamic and conventional financial institutions, merchant and investment banks, venture capital and private equity funds, fund sponsors and family investment companies, our team has helped to structure and implement billions of U.S. dollars in complex, innovative, often first of their kind transactions since 1995.

The team has developed a strong and highly respected working relation with leading Shari’ah scholars, which allows the team to develop investment and financing instruments in the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. that are compliant, practical and efficient. Typical transactions have included:

  • Shari’ah-compliant property funds valued at nearly US$10 billion;
  • private equity funds valued in excess of US$6 billion;
  • Shari’ah-compliant “sidecar” funds;
  • the acquisition, financing and development of properties in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East;
  • Shari’ah-compliant leveraged private equity acquisitions in the U.S., and acquisitions made in Europe and the Middle East;
  • landmark sukuk transactions and first-time Shari’ah-compliant financing structures;
  • Shari’ah-compliant project financings in the Middle East, including energy, desalination, residential and commercial projects;
  • the restructuring of Shari’ah-compliant investments; and
  • the formation of Shari’ah-compliant equities funds.

We work with many of the world’s leading financial institutions and development companies, including:

  • ACWA Power
  • Al Rajhi Holdings
  • Al Romaizan Company for Gold & Jewellery
  • Aramco
  • Arabian Real Estate Investment Trust
  • Arcapita BlueApple Partners
  • Dalma Energy
  • Dow Chemical Company
  • General Electric
  • Gulf Investment Corporation
  • International Investment Bank
  • Islamic Development Bank
  • Jadwa Investment Company
  • KFH Capital
  • Kuveyt Turk
  • Meraas
  • Mubadala Development Company
  • NBK Capital
  • NCB Capital
  • Sahara Petrochemical Company
  • Saudi Economic Development Co.
  • SHUAA Capital Saudi Arabia
  • Société Générale
Read more
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Awarded our firm the ‘Saudi Arabia Client Service Award’, 2021


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Ranked Band 1 for the 12th straight year for Middle East Investment Funds, 2010-2022


Chambers Global

Ranked Tier 1 Law Firm UAE Investment Funds for the 7th straight year, 2014-2021


The Legal 500

Ranked Tier 1 for Capital Markets and Corporate/M&A in Saudi Arabia, 2021


The Legal 500

“Esteemed Islamic finance practice with particular experience in advising investment funds on Shari'a-compliant investments and financing mandates”, 2021


Chambers Global

Ranked Band 1 in UAE Construction for the 4th straight year, 2018-2021


Chambers Global

Awarded “Cross-Border Deal of the Year” and “M&A, Equity and IPO Deal of the Year”, 2020.


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Ranked Tier 2 Real Estate, Banking and Finance, Projects and Energy Practices in Saudi Arabia, 2021


Legal 500 EMEA

Ranked Tier 2 Real Estate, Commercial, Corporate and M&A Practices in the UAE, 2021


Legal 500 EMEA

Ranked for FinTech in the UAE, 2021


Chambers Global

“Strong and respected team active on domestic and cross-border mandates”, 2021


Chambers Global

“King & Spalding's projects and energy practice comprises highly rated teams in the USA, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.”, 2021


Chambers Global

“Premier international practice routinely called upon to handle sophisticated commercial arbitration and investor-state disputes. King & Spalding has a strong footprint in arbitration hubs in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.”, 2021


Chambers Global

“Premier team with long-standing expertise in the investment funds arena. Acknowledged for assisting with funds matters across the region, and has particular strength in relation to Saudi Arabia.”, 2021


Chambers Global

“First-rate practice with particular expertise in non-contentious construction. Frequently sought out to assist with a broad spectrum of transactional mandates. Known for its expertise in utilities projects, particularly those relating to water and district cooling, as well as renewable energy schemes.”, 2021


Chambers Global

Ranked Band 2 for Capital Markets, Banking & Finance, Corporate/Commercial practices in Saudi Arabia, 2021


Chambers Global

“A broad and diverse utilities team, active on PPPs. Has an especially strong Saudi Arabian practice, with further experience of matters in Oman and the UAE.”, 2021


Chambers Global

“From the UAE, the team has developed a particularly strong reputation for handling cross-border mandates relating to the construction, real estate and energy spheres. The firm's banking practice is also highly international, offering high-profile clients support on a range of cross-border issues, including project and Islamic finance issues.”, 2021


Chambers Global

“Has an in-depth understanding of joint ventures in the real estate sector”, 2021


Chambers Global

“Maintains a distinguished offering in two key GCC markets: Saudi Arabia and the UAE”, 2021


Chambers Global

“Robust group, regularly engaged by private equity firms in regard to high-value buyouts in Saudi Arabia. Also active on a range of corporate restructurings, and highly experienced acting for clients in the technology and healthcare sectors. Equally well versed assisting with joint ventures on behalf of energy, construction and defence companies.”, 2021


Chambers Global

Ranked in the International & Cross-Border Capabilities Spotlight Table , 2021


Chambers Global

Ranked Band 2 Banking & Finance: Islamic Finance practice Global-wide for the 6th straight year, 2021


Chambers Global

Awarded “MENA Solar Deal of the Year”, 2020


Project Finance International

Awarded “MENA Power Deal of the Year”, 2020


IJGlobal

Awarded Asset Management and Investment Funds, Fintech and Capital Markets Firm of the Year, 2019


Islamic Finance News

Selected as the "Best Law Firm for Asset Management", 2014 - 2016, 2019


Islamic Finance News

Awarded "Middle East and Africa Renewable Deal of the Year", 2019


IJGlobal

Awarded Most Innovative Deal of the Year, 2019


Islamic Finance News

Awarded "Middle East and Africa Renewable Deal of the Year", 2019


Project Finance International (PFI)

Named "Best Onshore Law Firm", 2018


MENA Fund Manager Awards

Best Advisory Firm for Fund Structuring, 2016 - 2018


MENA Fund Manager

King & Spalding was selected as the "Law Firm of the Year" (2017-2018) and "Private Equity Law Firm of the Year" (2018)


Islamic Finance News

Named "M&A Team of the Year" and "M&A Deal of the Year", 2018


IFLR1000

Named "Arbitration, Insolvency and Restructuring Firm of the Year", 2018


Islamic Finance News

Ranked among top three law firms for project finance deals in North Africa and the Middle East, 2016


IJGlobal

One of the 22 most valued law firms within the energy sector, 2016


The Legal 500 - Client Intelligence Report

Top 15 construction practices in the world, 2015


Who’s Who Legal

Close

Recognition

Awarded our firm the ‘Saudi Arabia Client Service Award’, 2021


Chambers Global

Ranked Band 1 for the 12th straight year for Middle East Investment Funds, 2010-2022


Chambers Global

Ranked Tier 1 Law Firm UAE Investment Funds for the 7th straight year, 2014-2021


The Legal 500

Ranked Tier 1 for Capital Markets and Corporate/M&A in Saudi Arabia, 2021


The Legal 500

“Esteemed Islamic finance practice with particular experience in advising investment funds on Shari'a-compliant investments and financing mandates”, 2021


Chambers Global

Ranked Band 1 in UAE Construction for the 4th straight year, 2018-2021


Chambers Global

Awarded “Cross-Border Deal of the Year” and “M&A, Equity and IPO Deal of the Year”, 2020.


Islamic Finance News

Ranked Tier 2 Real Estate, Banking and Finance, Projects and Energy Practices in Saudi Arabia, 2021


Legal 500 EMEA

Ranked Tier 2 Real Estate, Commercial, Corporate and M&A Practices in the UAE, 2021


Legal 500 EMEA

Ranked for FinTech in the UAE, 2021


Chambers Global

“Strong and respected team active on domestic and cross-border mandates”, 2021


Chambers Global

“King & Spalding's projects and energy practice comprises highly rated teams in the USA, Asia, the Middle East and Europe.”, 2021


Chambers Global

“Premier international practice routinely called upon to handle sophisticated commercial arbitration and investor-state disputes. King & Spalding has a strong footprint in arbitration hubs in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.”, 2021


Chambers Global

“Premier team with long-standing expertise in the investment funds arena. Acknowledged for assisting with funds matters across the region, and has particular strength in relation to Saudi Arabia.”, 2021


Chambers Global

“First-rate practice with particular expertise in non-contentious construction. Frequently sought out to assist with a broad spectrum of transactional mandates. Known for its expertise in utilities projects, particularly those relating to water and district cooling, as well as renewable energy schemes.”, 2021


Chambers Global

Ranked Band 2 for Capital Markets, Banking & Finance, Corporate/Commercial practices in Saudi Arabia, 2021


Chambers Global

“A broad and diverse utilities team, active on PPPs. Has an especially strong Saudi Arabian practice, with further experience of matters in Oman and the UAE.”, 2021


Chambers Global

“From the UAE, the team has developed a particularly strong reputation for handling cross-border mandates relating to the construction, real estate and energy spheres. The firm's banking practice is also highly international, offering high-profile clients support on a range of cross-border issues, including project and Islamic finance issues.”, 2021


Chambers Global

“Has an in-depth understanding of joint ventures in the real estate sector”, 2021


Chambers Global

“Maintains a distinguished offering in two key GCC markets: Saudi Arabia and the UAE”, 2021


Chambers Global

“Robust group, regularly engaged by private equity firms in regard to high-value buyouts in Saudi Arabia. Also active on a range of corporate restructurings, and highly experienced acting for clients in the technology and healthcare sectors. Equally well versed assisting with joint ventures on behalf of energy, construction and defence companies.”, 2021


Chambers Global

Ranked in the International & Cross-Border Capabilities Spotlight Table , 2021


Chambers Global

Ranked Band 2 Banking & Finance: Islamic Finance practice Global-wide for the 6th straight year, 2021


Chambers Global

Awarded “MENA Solar Deal of the Year”, 2020


Project Finance International

Awarded “MENA Power Deal of the Year”, 2020


IJGlobal

Awarded Asset Management and Investment Funds, Fintech and Capital Markets Firm of the Year, 2019


Islamic Finance News

Selected as the "Best Law Firm for Asset Management", 2014 - 2016, 2019


Islamic Finance News

Awarded "Middle East and Africa Renewable Deal of the Year", 2019


IJGlobal

Awarded Most Innovative Deal of the Year, 2019


Islamic Finance News

Awarded "Middle East and Africa Renewable Deal of the Year", 2019


Project Finance International (PFI)

Named "Best Onshore Law Firm", 2018


MENA Fund Manager Awards

Best Advisory Firm for Fund Structuring, 2016 - 2018


MENA Fund Manager

King & Spalding was selected as the "Law Firm of the Year" (2017-2018) and "Private Equity Law Firm of the Year" (2018)


Islamic Finance News

Named "M&A Team of the Year" and "M&A Deal of the Year", 2018


IFLR1000

Named "Arbitration, Insolvency and Restructuring Firm of the Year", 2018


Islamic Finance News

Ranked among top three law firms for project finance deals in North Africa and the Middle East, 2016


IJGlobal

One of the 22 most valued law firms within the energy sector, 2016


The Legal 500 - Client Intelligence Report

Top 15 construction practices in the world, 2015


Who’s Who Legal

News

In the News · Source: Law.com International, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, Australasian Lawyer, The Global Legal Post and IJGlobal

December 18, 2023
M&A partners Simon Fraser and Matt Hartsuyker join the firm’s Corporate, Finance and Investments practice group in Abu Dhabi

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