IslamicFinance.de

Dubai Islamic Bank DISB.DU has not witnessed any significant withdrawals by despositors after news of Dubai World restructuring shook global markets, the lender's financial chief said on Tuesday.

Najd Investments Ltd today announced the opening of its Dubai office following the award of a licence by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to operate from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Ajman Bank, the emirate’s first Islamic commercial bank, has officially announced the appointment of their new Head of Finance Division, Seifeldin Abdelkareem. With a career in the financial field spanning twenty eight years, Abdelkareem has a multitude of experience to contribute as new Head of Finance.

Methaq Takaful Insurance is planning new Takaful products that will be launched in 2010, Dr Omar Fisher, advisor to the board of the firm said at a meeting of insurance broker partners. The article did not clarify what type of products are foreseen.

Infrastructure spending is still a major growth driver in the Gulf Co-operation Council countries, with current projects valued at a whopping $2.6 trillion, but alternative funding schemes need to be explored as the global economic crisis is stifling commercial lenders, experts said.

The GCC Takaful report caters to investors looking for investment opportunities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Takaful (Islamic Insurance) industry. The focus of the report is on opportunities and challenges for growth of the industry, industry trends, financial performance, valuations, stock liquidity and governance & transparency.

Alpen Capital expects the GCC Takaful industry:

• to grow at a CAGR of approximately 16.1% per annum in 2009 to 2012.

• to continue to grow faster than conventional insurance.

Full details of the findings are in the report for download at the below source.

NASDAQ Dubai welcomes the announcement made today by Dubai Financial Market (DFM), by which DFM has made an offer to acquire NASDAQ Dubai, subject to regulatory approvals. Under the new ownership structure, DFM and NASDAQ Dubai will develop closer operational links.

The Government of Dubai announced that, with the backing of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (AA/Stable/A-1+), it would be providing US$10 billion in financing to Dubai World and its subsidiaries, through its financial support fund.

The Dubai International Financial Centre Authority released the “DIFC Sukuk Guide” - a comprehensive introduction to various sukuk structures, as well as legal and regulatory information on issuing sukuk from the DIFC and listing sukuk on NASDAQ Dubai. Prepared by Clifford Chance, Amanie Consulting, the DFSA and the DIFC Authority, the guide provides a summary of sukuk structures and information on issuing sukuk in DIFC.

The full report is for download at the link below:

King & Spalding published a briefing on the recent request by Dubai World that all its creditors agree to a standstill on any amounts payable to them until at least 30 May 2010 and the new law issued by the Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, setting out what will occur in the event that Dubai World or any of its subsidiaries are in an insolvency situation.

The briefing is authored by Michael Rainey and Sara Carmody of King & Spalding London and Dubai offices.

Moody's Investors Service has today downgraded the ratings of three Dubai-based banks -- Emirates NBD,
Mashreqbank PSC and Dubai Islamic Bank PJSC. These ratings were placed under review in August 2009 in response to a weakening of economic conditions in Dubai.

Dubai's index DFM faltered for the second session in three, with investors showing little enthusiasm for risking more money in a highly volatile market until fresh news on Dubai World's restructuring emerges.

Dubai tries to restore its reputation on Thursday, assuring investors that major property and leisure projects would go ahead and dispatching two top officials on a public relations drive to Washington.

Repayment of a $4.1 billion (around Dh15.05 billion) bond issued by Nakheel was set to be completed yesterday, when other Islamic bond issuers reassured investors about their repayment capability in replies to a ‘soundness and health' check by Nasdaq Dubai.

The government of Abu Dhabi and the Central Bank of the UAE has announced that it has agreed to provide $10 billion to the Dubai Financial Support Fund.

The Dubai Financial Support Fund can therefore enable Nakheel to pay its Sukuk due today.

Nakheel Development Limited announced via the exchange, Nasdaq Dubai that it aims to repay the Sukuk in the next two weeks. According to the statement it will use funds that will be provided by the Dubai Financial Support Fund.

Dubai Islamic Bank (DIB) announced today the launch of Wajaha, a distinguished wealth management service for ultra high net worth individuals. Tailored to meet the distinct needs of the ultra high net worth clients, Wajaha is an invitation-only service that offers unparalleled advantages, from unique financial products to personal relationship managers, offered within a private setting in exclusive Wajaha Centres in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

Dear Readers,

An article in the Financial Times, has discussed the legal issues surrounding to an eventual Event of Default of the Nakheel Sukuk, which can be read here:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/215c0502-e038-11de-8494-00144feab49a.html

Some comments came afterwards referring to that piece, e.g. on FT Alphaville:

http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2009/12/04/86736/nakheel-and-the-sukuk-l...

Claiming that because of Sharia law in the UAE there is uncertainty regarding burden sharing.

Such a claim is an error. While the Sukuk was structured to comply with Sharia the various Agreements are either governed by English law or UAE law.

Therefore it is crucial to see how assets could be seized under UAE law not under Sharia law: A nice summary of the dispute resolution in the UAE is free for download by the law firm Afridi and Angell:

http://www.legal500.com/assets/images/stories/firmdevs/disputeresolution...

Dear Readers,

some background on the standstill:

Sukuk prospectus of the related Nakheel entity:
http://blogs.thenational.ae/economy_blog/Nakheel%20Development%201%20Pro...

citation:
"Risks Relating to the Co-Obligors and the Co-Obligor Group Strategy

The growth strategy of the Co-Obligor Group is based on certain assumptions relating to, inter alia,
economic conditions, market for real estate and demographic conditions in Dubai. [...] This could, for example, have an impact on the rental income, sales proceeds or other income (such as management fees) available to the Co-Obligor Group and the value of its projects, which could affect its ability to make payments under he Transaction Documents."

and the issue of implicit sovereign support was nicely discussed in a blog:
http://blogs.thenational.ae/economy_blog/2009/08/nakheels-bond-prospectu...

The rational behind is explained by a rating agency here in 2007:
http://www2.standardandpoors.com/spf/pdf/media/sp_approach_to_sukuk_17-s...

"from its parent also benefited from strong implicit government support."

Press Release

Several Dubai Government-Related Entities Downgraded And On Watch Negative Following
Debt Restructuring Announcement

DUBAI (Standard & Poor's) Nov. 25, 2009--Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it
had taken rating actions on a number of Dubai-based government related entities
(GREs) and transactions (for full details see "Ratings List" below). Standard &
Poor's has downgraded DIFC Investments LLC, DP World Ltd., Jebel Ali Free Zone
(FZE), Dubai Holding Commercial Operations Group LLC (DHCOG), and Emaar Properties
PJSC. All of these entities have been placed on CreditWatch with negative
implications. The ratings on Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority (DMCC) were
affirmed, although they were placed on CreditWatch negative. A CreditWatch negative
placement also applies to the notes issued by Thor Asset Purchase (Cayman) Ltd.
(Thor), which are securitized by cash flows from a revolving pool of existing and
future receivables originated by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA; not
rated).

The rating actions are the result of the announcement on Nov. 25 of the