The legislative framework for insolvency and bankruptcy in the United Arab Emirates is codified under the two following laws.

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.

The UAE Bankruptcy law has recently seen a change. In the past insolvencies required companies in the UAE to undergo consensual restructuring of a debtor’s liabilities. In addition, largely untested legislations previously pushed companies and their partners towards restrained insolvencies owing to limiting procedures. The new bankruptcy law is a game-changer, bringing with its major changes which will positively impact businesses.

In March of 2019, an Emirati limited liability company (the “LLC”) had restructured its debts under the Bankruptcy Law; Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2016 which was first published in the Official Gazette on 29 September 2016 and came into force on 29 December 2016.

Under Chapter 4 of the Bankruptcy Law the Bankruptcy Circuit of the Abu Dhabi Primary Court oversaw the restructuring of the LLC under which had been operating in the contracting industry since 2008 and had debts exceeding eighteen times its paid-up capital.

The new United Arab Emirates (UAE) Insolvency Law (Federal Law No.9 of 2016) (Insolvency Law) was published in the UAE Gazette on 29 September 2016 and came in to force three months later on 29 December 2016. The Insolvency Law is a federal law that applies to all seven emirates comprising the UAE. The initial view from market participants is that by replacing the old insolvency law, which placed a greater emphasis on creditor protections and formal bankruptcy proceedings alongside criminal penalties, the Insolvency Law is an overdue but welcome development.

إن الثقة والإئتمان هي أساس التعامل التجاري في معظم المعاملات بين التجار لأنه يتم في معظم الأحوال أن يقوم التجار فيما بينهم بالتعامل الآجل اي أن يتم توريد البضاعة أو الخدمة وبعد ذلك يتم تحصيل الثمن أو الأجر بعد فترة أو على أقساط ، وإذا استمر التاجر في سداد التزاماته وديونه في مواعيدها فلا يمكن لأحد أن يسبب له اي مشكلة ، أما إذا توقف أوتعثر في سداد تلك الديون فيضطرب مركزه المالي ويهتز ائتمانه وقد يلجأ إلى وسائل أو إجراءات لتهريب أمواله من التنفيذ عليها أو يجامل بعض الدائنين على حساب البعض الآخر وهنا قد يتضرر الدائنين كلهم أو بعضهم حيث قد يمكن لأحدهم أن يحصل على

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.

Executive Summary 

Where multiple Cayman Islands entities in the same corporate structure become subject to insolvency proceedings (e.g. Cayman Islands master/ feeder fund structures), the Cayman Islands Courts will typically seek to appoint the same liquidators at each level where such entities share similarities in circumstances. Doing so typically aligns with the Overriding Objective of the Court to deal with matters economically and efficiently, and in the context of a liquidation, helps protect the interests of stakeholders in the liquidation. 

Global Perspectives on Insolvency, Restructuring & Dispute Resolution 

As primarily offshore lawyers, we speak on a daily basis with onshore counsel, banks, asset managers, trustees, corporates, insolvency practitioners and individuals around the world. Those conversations give our Global Insolvency & Dispute Resolution Practice Group a unique perspective on the different market trends and their regional impact in 2022.

On 26 April 2022, Chief Justice Smellie QC in Re Premier Assurance Group SPC Ltd. (in Official Liquidation) sanctioned a decision by the joint official liquidators (“JOLs”) of Premier Assurance Group SPC Ltd (in Official Liquidation) (the “Company”) to return (or procure the return of) certain payments held by or on behalf of the Company referable to one of its segregated portfolios, Premier Assurance Segregated Portfolio (“PASP”), to the respective payors on the basis that such sums were paid by mistake.