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Launch of International Islamic Finance Journal from Dubai

Press Release

Today sees the launch of a new Journal on Islamic finance from dedicated Islamic finance media entity Yasaar Media.

The Journal, called So Far – the Journal of Strategic Thinking in Islamic Finance, is written and edited by members of an Islamic finance Think Tank and is modelled on traditional academic journals. The difference with So Far is that the members of the Think Tank are predominantly practitioners rather than academics.
Member of the Think Tank are drawn from the ranks of committed Islamic finance professionals around the world and range from the Gulf and the Far East to the USA and Europe.

Each issue of So Far is dedicated to a single topic of core importance to the Islamic finance industry – and the launch issue looks at the thorny issue of the problems facing the Sukuk market. Unlike many other journals So Far is distributed free in PDF format and is available from a variety of sources including Yasaar Media thus guaranteeing maximum readership and exposure.

CEO of HSBC Amanah to Speak at Euromoney's Islamic Finance Summit in February

CEO of HSBC Amanah will deliver the keynote address at Euromoney's Islamic Finance Summit in London on 23rd February 2010 at The Landmark.

In his speech, Mukhtar Hussian is expected to highlight how to put the economic crisis and lessons learnt from recent sukuk defaults to good use. He will also reveal how the industry can drive competitiveness with conventional banking, while ensuring stable growth through 'best in class' risk management. Also on the agenda: Why high-profile sukuk defaults have generated a timely debate, enforceability and the lessons the industry must learn about reputational risk.

Moody's downgrades Aldar to Baa2, ratings kept on review

Moody's Investors Service today downgraded the ratings for Aldar Properties PJSC (Aldar), the Trust Certificates (sukuk) issued by Sukuk Funding (No. 2) Limited and the guaranteed Notes issued by Atlantic Finance Limited, to Baa2 from A3. Ratings have been kept on review for further possible downgrade as part of the ongoing review of government support for Abu Dhabi and UAE corporates initiated by Moody's on December 9, 2009.

Islamic banks outperform non-Islamic banks in UAE quality bank benchmarking study

Seven Islamic banks were included in this year's study which tested the service quality performance of 27 banks across the UAE. Five of the seven Islamic banks included claimed a place within the top 10 performance ranking table.

Noor Takaful Launches Individual Family Insurance Suite of Products

Noor Takaful, the Islamic Insurance provider, today launched its suite of Individual Family products with flexible protection, investment, and savings takaful plans to cater to the national and expatriate residents of the UAE. The introduction of the new products coincides with the first anniversary of the company’s inauguration and demonstrates its commitment to innovatively meeting the unique needs of the UAE market.

Alpen Capital published report on the GCC Takaful industry

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.

Nakheel repayment has no immediate impact on Dubai GREs ratings, says S&P

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.

Dubai sets up tribunal to settle Dubai World financial disputes

The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, today announced the setting up of a tribunal to decide the disputes related to the settlement of the financial position of Dubai World and its units reported Bloomberg, citing a statement from his the ruler's press office.

Guide to Issuing Sukuk from the DIFC is Published

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:

Dubai agrees with creditors for further standstill and issues new law

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 downgrades three Dubai-based banks

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 market stumbles for the second consecutive session

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 scrambles to restore confidence

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.

Funds distributed for Nakheel bond repayment

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.

Dubai Financial Support Fund receives USD 10 billion from Abu Dhabi

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 to repay sukuk in next 2 weeks

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 launches Wajaha, exclusive wealth management service

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.

Gassner's picture

Nakheel - Event of Default - Legal Issues?

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...

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