On August 28, 2012, the Special Tribunal related to Dubai World (the “Tribunal”) formally approved the restructuring of more than US$2 billion of debt of Drydocks World LLC and Drydocks World – Dubai LLC (together, “Drydocks”) under a syndicated term loan facility and separate hedging agreements, in the first restructuring approved under Dubai Decree No. 57 for 2009 (“Decree 57”).

Decree 57 creates an unprecedented insolvency regime applicable to Dubai World and its subsidiaries. Decree 57 gives the Tribunal exclusive

Over the last 12 months, structured finance transactions in the Middle East (both Islamic and conventional) have seen increased use of a comparatively new and previously underutilized type of special purpose vehicle (SPV) – the DIFC special purpose company (SPC).

An SPC is a private company limited by shares incorporated under the laws of the Dubai International Financial Centre (the DIFC), a financial free zone located in the Emirate of Dubai with its own body of law and regulations and