In a landmark bankruptcy case judgment issued on 10 October 2021 the Dubai Court of First Instance has held the directors and managers of an insolvent Dubai-based PJSC to be personally liable to pay the outstanding debts of the previously listed company (now in liquidation) pursuant to the UAE Bankruptcy Law. This decision represents a very significant milestone in the UAE insolvency landscape since the enactment of the Bankruptcy Law in late 2016, being the first known instance of a case where such personal liability has been ordered.
Good evening.
Following are this week’s summaries of the Court of Appeal for Ontario for the week of September 13, 2021.
Since the global financial crisis, the Middle East restructuring and insolvency market has come a long way. Having sought to reduce their economies' dependency on oil revenues and become more attractive to international investors, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in particular have significantly developed the restructuring and insolvency toolbox available to creditors and debtors alike.
A&C Legal Guides Guide To Litigation and Arbitration in The UAE 2021 PART 2: Offshore Courts Guide to Litigation and Arbitration in the UAE 2021 www.alsuwaidi.ae 2 Preface This guide has been written as an aid to provide users and potential users of legal services with an overview of the legal processes within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which may be available in any given situation.
In brief:
The case we handled relates to:
- enforcement of a Dutch bankruptcy judgment in the UAE;
- application of principle of reciprocity; and
- requirements of competency, justice and public policy.
Background
Following the substantial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global trade and business operations in the UAE, the Government of the UAE has taken measures to protect businesses facing financial difficulty. Among these measures has been a mechanism that provides relief to businesses in financial distress because of the pandemic within the framework of the UAE Federal Bankruptcy Law No. 9 of 2016 (the Bankruptcy Law).
On 9 June 2021, the Dubai Court of Cassation adopting a restrictive interpretation of the UAE Federal Law No 11 of 1992 and its amendments (the Civil Procedure Code) has added a requirement for the success of a debt recovery claim through a payment order application to the summary judge: there must be written evidence that the debt was either accepted or acknowledged by the debtor. This article provides an overview of the legal requirements of the payment order claim and what this new requirement of the Dubai Court of Cassation means for creditors in Dubai.
ADGM DIFC Regulatory Regime Regulated by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority (“FSRA”). Regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). Regulatory Status Prudential category 3C firm. Prudential category 3C firm. Structure • Private Company Limited by Shares; or • Foreign Recognised Company (Branch). • Private Company Limited by Shares; or • Foreign Recognised Company (Branch). Permitted/Authorised Activity • Managing Assets • Arranging Deals in Investments • Advising on Financial Products.
A challenging economic environment and Covid-19 are behind a looming wave of contentious insolvency in the Middle East. The legislative framework in the UAE now provides the tools to creditors to face the challenge.
Financial liability in terms of multiple loans or credit cards is to be best handled by availing the option of a ‘Debt consolidation loan in UAE’. There are several banks in the UAE providing the services of a ‘debt consolidation loan’. As per the latest surveys, it is seen that at least three in five UAE residents have outstanding debts of various nature and therefore can benefit from the Debt consolidation services.
How it works: