United Arab Emirates

Recent work highlights

Real Estate


  • Advised Global Student Accommodation Group on the sale and leaseback of the first purpose-built student accommodation scheme in Dubai.
  • Advised Omagine LLC on the $2.9bn Omagine Project, for the development of approximately 245 acres of prime beachfront land facing the Gulf of Oman.
  • Advised Omnivest on contract documentation in relation to a $1bn integrated tourist complex at Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman. Advised Union Properties PJSC on the $150m sale and development of Auto Mall in Dubai.
  • Advised MGGT, a Kuwaiti headquartered education provider, on all aspects of the land purchase from Aldar and development/construction of The Arbor School, Abu Dhabi (a tier 1 premium British curriculum school).
  • Advised EY in taking a lease of 120,000 square feet of office space in ICD Brookfield Place in the Dubai International Financial Centre. This letting is one of the largest office lettings in Dubai for many years and will be EY’s new Middle East Headquarters.
  • Advised Sweid & Sweid on the acquisition of a musataha interest from TECOM for the development of a new 100,000 square foot build-to-suit building in Dubai Internet City to lease to Visa as their Middle East HQ.

Hotels


  • Advised Corinthia on the management agreement and related contracts for the Corinthia of Meydan Beach five-star hotel and residences development in Dubai.
  • Advised Al Marjan Island LLC (part of the RAK Government) on the management agreement and related contracts for the development of a 450 key Barcelo All Inclusive resort on Al Marjan Island.
  • Advised Crowngate International on the management agreement and related contracts with Minor Group for the four-star Avani Resort development in RAK, UAE.
  • Advised Al Naboodah Real Estate on the “manchise” agreements and related contracts with Millennium & Copthorne for Studio M Hotel on Al Ittihad Road, Dubai.
  • Advised the owner on the development of a 500-key hotel in Dubai Marina on management agreements and related contracts with Millennium & Copthorne.
  • Advised a global media group on a hotel franchise agreement for the development of a cartoon-themed hotel in Dubai.

Financing


  • Advised a UAE investor on the development financing of a collection of warehouses in Dubai.
  • Advised Shariah compliant banks in the UK on real estate acquisitions, refinancings and developments with an aggregate value exceeding £1bn.
  • Advised a UAE family office on the acquisition and associated financing of several commercial office premises.
  • Advised a national pension fund on a bifurcated conventional and Shariah compliant financing of two properties in the Netherlands.
  • Advised a Saudi family conglomerate on the financing of a student accommodation investment platform.
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Located in Dubai3 real estate partners and 3 lawyersLanguages: English, French and Arabic

Key contacts

Geoff Smith
Partner
Head of Real Estate
Dubai
T +971 4 374 2819
John O'Connor
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