While the Dubai International Financial Centre (the DIFC) remains primarily focused on the financial services industry, its stable and sophisticated legal and regulatory regimes have increasingly attracted organisations in the culture and arts, retail, leisure and — more recently — the non-profit sectors. To date, only a handful of non-profit entities have been established in … Continue Reading
The strengthening global recovery appears to have brought renewed confidence to the UAE’s capital markets. As such, a number of interesting themes have begun to emerge: Resurgence in Dubai’s Real Estate Sector: Following a four year gap, IPOs and other equity offerings have returned in the form of DAMAC, Al Noor Hospitals, Arabtec, NMC Healthcare … Continue Reading
The final text of the UAE’s long-awaited new Investment Funds Regulation (the Regulation) has been approved by the Board of the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (the SCA). The Regulation will take effect as SCA Board Resolution No. 37 of 2012 on the Regulation of Investment Funds following publication in the Official Gazette in late … Continue Reading
A number of significant changes to the securities and capital markets regime in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) came into force on 5 July 2012. The changes represent the policy of the DIFC’s regulator, the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to more closely align the DIFC with leading benchmark jurisdictions and the requirements of … Continue Reading
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 … Continue Reading
Few countries in the world have come close to matching Iraq in terms of contradictory media coverage in recent years. Stories of economic growth and opportunity are tempered by reports of political, tribal and sectarian divisions. While the world is focussed on insecurity in the immediate aftermath of the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq … Continue Reading
NASDAQ Dubai recently consulted on its new proposed Admission and Disclosure Standards (the “ADSs”). Reform of the DIFC’s Listing Regime The proposed ADSs, issued on 6 February 2012, are part of significant ongoing reform of the regulatory architecture governing NASDAQ Dubai and other securities exchanges in the Dubai International Financial Centre (the DIFC). The reforms … Continue Reading
Investing in the Palestinian territories has traditionally been laced with political and economic risk. But the successful listing of the second player in the Palestinian mobile telecommunications sector has invited a closer look at the potential for investment. 2011 saw the successful completion of the largest initial public offering (IPO) in the Palestinian territories in … Continue Reading
