Close

People

Malek Al Rifai is a real estate partner in the Corporate, Finance and Investments Group based in the Dubai office. Malek has a diverse multidisciplinary practice focused on owners and operators in the real estate industry. He has represented developers, REITs, commercial and investment banks, private equity fund sponsors, family offices and institutional investors in a variety of real estate and corporate transactions and regulatory matters across the GCC.

Malek’s transactional experience includes direct and indirect real estate acquisitions across all types of property (including hospitality, industrial, educational and healthcare assets), development transactions, hotel acquisition and management transactions, capital market and financing transactions involving real estate, representation of institutional investors and real estate funds in connection with the formation of real estate joint ventures, and turnaround of distressed off-plan projects.

Malek is recognized in both Chambers Global Guide and Legal 500 EMEA. Clients describe him as a “standout lawyer” who “thinks outside the box” and is “business minded, very responsive and very knowledgeable”.

Malek received his LLB from Saint Joseph University. He also holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from Bayes Business School (City, University of London).

Malek is fluent in Arabic, English and French.

Full Bio

Credentials

Executive MBA, Bayes Business School, City University of London

LLB in Private Law/ Master 1 (Maîtrise en droit privé), Faculty of Law, Saint Joseph University

Beirut Bar Association, 2008

Arabic

English

French

Matters

Prior to joining the firm, Malek advised:

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Peninsula Real Estate Management Limited in connection with its AED 555 million purchase of 17 income generating warehouse assets in Al Markaz industrial development in Abu Dhabi.

Apollo Global Management in connection with its US$ 500 million strategic equity stake in Adar Investment Properties (AIP), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-listed Aldar Properties PJSC and the region’s largest institutional-class real estate platform with assets across retail, residential, commercial, and logistics segments.

A Kuwaiti Shareholding Company K.S.C. (closed), in connection with a Sharia compliant sale and leaseback of a workers’ accommodation.

See more

Close

Matters

Prior to joining the firm, Malek advised:

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Peninsula Real Estate Management Limited in connection with its AED 555 million purchase of 17 income generating warehouse assets in Al Markaz industrial development in Abu Dhabi.

Apollo Global Management in connection with its US$ 500 million strategic equity stake in Adar Investment Properties (AIP), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-listed Aldar Properties PJSC and the region’s largest institutional-class real estate platform with assets across retail, residential, commercial, and logistics segments.

A Kuwaiti Shareholding Company K.S.C. (closed), in connection with a Sharia compliant sale and leaseback of a workers’ accommodation.

Real Estate Aspects of Structured Finance

Apollo Global Management in connection with its US$ 500 million real estate structured finance investment in the landbank of Aldar Properties PJSC.

Apollo Global Management and its consortium of institutional investors in connection with its US$2.7 billion acquisition of a 49% stake in in Abu Dhabi Property Leasing Holding Company RSC Ltd from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). This structured finance transaction allowed ADNOC to maintain full ownership and control over its real estate portfolio while leveraging the rental income streams from the same (valued at US$ 5.5 billion) pursuant to a 24-year Master Lease Agreement.

Development work

A leading developer in Dubai in connection with various hospitality projects in the UAE, including assistance in the drafting of the standard sale and purchase agreements, fractional ownership and rental guarantee documentation.

A leading developer in Ras Al Khaimah, in connection with the drafting of its standard sale and purchase agreements with sub-developers.

Property Funds and Listed Companies

Emaar Development PJSC, the development arm of Emaar Group, in connection with its US$1.5 billion initial public offering of ordinary shares and listing on the DFM.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in connection with the real estate restructuring exercise required as part of the readiness phase of its US$ 851 million initial public offering.

Leasing and Management

A Saudi family office in connection with the appointment of an international hotel operator for three hotels in Riyadh and Khobar.

A school operator in connection with a build-to-suit lease of a school in Dubai.

A Saudi institutional investor in connection with a built-to-suit transaction with a leading operator relating to an orthopedic healthcare facility in Jeddah.

A multinational bank in connection with the leasing of various assets comprising its portfolio in the GCC.

Pacha Group in the negotiation of hospitality management services with Five Hotel.

A Real Estate Investment Company in connection with its proposed initial public offering of shares (primary offering) on ADX.

A private owner in connection with the lease of its hotel in Dubai.

Softbank in connection with its lease of offices in ICD Brookfield.

Doğuş Group, in relation to the lease of various commercial and retail premises in the UAE.

Distressed Assets and Special Situations

Hayfin Capital Management, a hedge fund, in connection with its financing of Imperial Avenue project in Downtown Dubai under development by Shapoorji Pallonji International Property Developers, the development arm of Shapoorji Pallonji.

Matters

Prior to joining the firm, Malek advised:

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Peninsula Real Estate Management Limited in connection with its AED 555 million purchase of 17 income generating warehouse assets in Al Markaz industrial development in Abu Dhabi.

Apollo Global Management in connection with its US$ 500 million strategic equity stake in Adar Investment Properties (AIP), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-listed Aldar Properties PJSC and the region’s largest institutional-class real estate platform with assets across retail, residential, commercial, and logistics segments.

A Kuwaiti Shareholding Company K.S.C. (closed), in connection with a Sharia compliant sale and leaseback of a workers’ accommodation.

See more

Close

Matters

Prior to joining the firm, Malek advised:

Acquisitions and Dispositions

Peninsula Real Estate Management Limited in connection with its AED 555 million purchase of 17 income generating warehouse assets in Al Markaz industrial development in Abu Dhabi.

Apollo Global Management in connection with its US$ 500 million strategic equity stake in Adar Investment Properties (AIP), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-listed Aldar Properties PJSC and the region’s largest institutional-class real estate platform with assets across retail, residential, commercial, and logistics segments.

A Kuwaiti Shareholding Company K.S.C. (closed), in connection with a Sharia compliant sale and leaseback of a workers’ accommodation.

Real Estate Aspects of Structured Finance

Apollo Global Management in connection with its US$ 500 million real estate structured finance investment in the landbank of Aldar Properties PJSC.

Apollo Global Management and its consortium of institutional investors in connection with its US$2.7 billion acquisition of a 49% stake in in Abu Dhabi Property Leasing Holding Company RSC Ltd from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). This structured finance transaction allowed ADNOC to maintain full ownership and control over its real estate portfolio while leveraging the rental income streams from the same (valued at US$ 5.5 billion) pursuant to a 24-year Master Lease Agreement.

Development work

A leading developer in Dubai in connection with various hospitality projects in the UAE, including assistance in the drafting of the standard sale and purchase agreements, fractional ownership and rental guarantee documentation.

A leading developer in Ras Al Khaimah, in connection with the drafting of its standard sale and purchase agreements with sub-developers.

Property Funds and Listed Companies

Emaar Development PJSC, the development arm of Emaar Group, in connection with its US$1.5 billion initial public offering of ordinary shares and listing on the DFM.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in connection with the real estate restructuring exercise required as part of the readiness phase of its US$ 851 million initial public offering.

Leasing and Management

A Saudi family office in connection with the appointment of an international hotel operator for three hotels in Riyadh and Khobar.

A school operator in connection with a build-to-suit lease of a school in Dubai.

A Saudi institutional investor in connection with a built-to-suit transaction with a leading operator relating to an orthopedic healthcare facility in Jeddah.

A multinational bank in connection with the leasing of various assets comprising its portfolio in the GCC.

Pacha Group in the negotiation of hospitality management services with Five Hotel.

A Real Estate Investment Company in connection with its proposed initial public offering of shares (primary offering) on ADX.

A private owner in connection with the lease of its hotel in Dubai.

Softbank in connection with its lease of offices in ICD Brookfield.

Doğuş Group, in relation to the lease of various commercial and retail premises in the UAE.

Distressed Assets and Special Situations

Hayfin Capital Management, a hedge fund, in connection with its financing of Imperial Avenue project in Downtown Dubai under development by Shapoorji Pallonji International Property Developers, the development arm of Shapoorji Pallonji.

Credentials

Executive MBA, Bayes Business School, City University of London

LLB in Private Law/ Master 1 (Maîtrise en droit privé), Faculty of Law, Saint Joseph University

Beirut Bar Association, 2008

Arabic

English

French