On 14 December 2009, the same day on which Nakheel, a Dubai World subsidiary, was due to make payment under its 2009 sukuk, the Government of Dubai announced that it had received support from the Government of Abu Dhabi and the UAE Central Bank and would pay the US$4.1 billion due. It also announced that it had secured funding of an additional US$5.9 billion to be used to meet “interest expenses and working capital [of Dubai World] through April 30, 2010 – conditioned on the company being successful in negotiating a standstill”.

Dubai has issued a decree dealing with the restructuring of the Dubai World group of companies.

Last week Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, issued Decree No. 57 for 2009 Establishing a Tribunal to decide the Disputes Related to the Settlement of the Financial Position of Dubai World and its Subsidiaries (the “Decree”). The Decree establishes a tribunal (the “Tribunal”) comprising three members--Sir Anthony Evans, Michael Hwang, and Sir John Chadwick--to hear and decide all demands and claims submitted against Dubai World and/or its subsidiaries including Nakheel and Limitless, and any of their directors or employees.

In brief

The UAE has issued Federal Law No. 48 of 2023 in relation to insolvency (the "New Insolvency Law"), which replaces Federal Law No. 9 of 2016 and comes into effect on 1 May 2024. Although the previous law was more progressive compared to the previous insolvency articles embedded in the old Commercial Code of 1993, at least in relation to the numerous insolvency matters and other protective composition and restructuring witnessed by the courts.

We have set out below some of the key characteristics of the New Insolvency Law:

Introduction

Two shareholders of KBBO have obtained recognition in the English High Court of their Abu Dhabi bankruptcy process.

On 31 October 2023, Federal Law No. 51 of 2023 Promulgating the Financial and Bankruptcy Law (the Bankruptcy Law) was published in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Official Gazette, repealing the prior federal law on bankruptcy (Federal Law No. 9 of 2016, the Prior Law) and significantly developing the bankruptcy regime in the UAE.

In 2016, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) witnessed significant development in the country’s legal framework for handling corporate insolvencies with the introduction of the Federal Decree-Law No. 9/2016 on Bankruptcy (“Bankruptcy Law”).

The UAE Gazette of 31 October 2023 includes Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2023 on Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy (the “New Law”). Here are some highlights:

- A section of the Courts is designated to monitor and administer bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings. This section is chaired by a Court of Appeal Judge.

- Resolution of claims between debtors and creditors is encouraged; for example, by providing wider scope to debtors seeking Protective Composition.

Routes to Reorganisation

A Comparative Study of the Insolvency Procedures Available in the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United States and England and Wales

First published in the INSOL Restructuring Alert (November 2023)

Introduction

Introduction

A recent Commercial Court decision has raised an intriguing question of private international law: can a foreign judgment be enforced in England and Wales if it is not enforceable in the country where it was given?