Middle East REAL ESTATE practice

Our regional Real Estate group is closely aligned with our global practice, one of the largest real estate teams in the world. Through this international team we are able to coordinate transactions of Middle Eastern clients in other jurisdictions. Our emphasis is always on delivering a commercial, responsive and cost efficient service. We are one team, here to simplify projects and provide a real advantage to you in the Middle East and beyond. The team specialises in helping you make informed decisions about your real estate needs and to transact successful deals, wherever they may be. OVERVIEW EXPERTISE Real Estate is a core practice area for the firm with a team What we do can be categorised as follows: of over 500 lawyers across DLA Piper’s offices worldwide. ■■ Acquisitions and disposals – we handle all aspects of We act for some of the world’s largest real estate investors site assembly and acquisition, including due diligence, and developers. Locally, we act for many leading master contract negotiation and registration of title. developers and Government-owned entities on some of the ■■ Asset management – we advise on all types of property most high profile projects in the UAE. We have considerable and facilities management agreements, including assisting experience in the acquisition and development of freehold with proposal procedures and negotiating contract terms. and leasehold property and the structuring of mixed-use ■■ Construction – our construction team has worked on schemes, including community and strata title schemes. many signature projects in the region as well as advising on contentious construction matters. THE TEAM ■■ Development work – we advise on complex development The team focuses on the outcomes unique to each deal. agreements, including joint venture structures and Our Arabic-speaking lawyers ensure that our clients meet financing arrangements. their regulatory requirements quickly and efficiently. In the ■■ Hotels and leisure – our team advises local and fast moving markets of the Middle East, speed of response international developers, franchisors, operators and a quality legal product are necessities for clients in and owners on hotel projects in the Middle East and order to take advantage of opportunities. We believe our around the world, including hotel management team can give you that edge. arrangements for new developments and day-to-day No matter the size of the local, regional or international operational matters. project or transaction, we have lawyers on the ground, ■■ Leasing – we act for owners and occupiers of all types in strategic, regional locations to meet all our clients of commercial property, including developing housing legal needs. policies for large corporate occupiers.

■■ Real Estate finance – our lawyers handle complex REGIONAL PRESENCE real estate financing matters for both borrowers and lenders, including Islamic financing.

■■ Real Estate disputes – the team will work with you to find the most cost-effective and appropriate resolution for your business. We have excellent contacts at various regulatory bodies in the region through the firm’s Arabic-speaking lawyers. Our team brings international insight and best practice and combines it with local understanding and know-how. This combination allows us to devise and execute transactions in a manner to satisfy the requirements of sophisticated clients in local markets where local regulation has not yet reached full maturity.

02 | Middle East Real Estate Practice ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSALS DEVELOPMENT Our lawyers represent clients in transactions involving all From site assembly to exit strategy, the team gets the right kinds of assets, including the acquisition and disposal of results for you. Our lawyers have experience in every stage commercial property such as office buildings, shopping of a development project, meaning we have insight into centres and hotels, as well as industrial property. We can the needs and objectives of a wide range of stakeholders. also guide you on the sale and purchase of leisure premises The practice is committed to the best outcome for all; (such as golf complexes, gymnasiums and spas), schools a successful, marketable development. and student residences, and undeveloped sites. Our lawyers can deliver the right contractual arrangements to cater for your funding needs and the appropriate risk ASSET MANAGEMENT profile for your investment or development. The team Asset managers can enjoy a full service from operates closely with our construction specialists to provide DLA Piper, whatever their sector or strategy. We advise tailored and commercial advice. on the establishment of management firms, whether ‘spin off’, start-up or on an expansion basis. We can HOTELS & LEISURE also provide comprehensive regulatory and compliance Our team provides a wide range of legal services to the advice. If you’re looking to expand beyond your home hospitality and leisure sector throughout the GCC states market, our global team can assist you. The team works and the wider Middle East. We can help you overcome the to an international standard tailored for the local market. many unique challenges you face across all areas of law; whether you are an owner, manager, franchisee, franchisor, CONSTRUCTION operator, investor, developer or lender, including in respect One of the largest dedicated construction and engineering of hotel management arrangements for new and existing practices in the Middle East, our lawyers will stand by hotel development projects. your side through every stage of your construction project. We can help you with the management and operation of Our lawyers advise on all forms of contracts, including hotels and resorts. With a dedicated hotels and hospitality construct only, design and build, EPC, EPCM, alliance, practice on the ground in the Middle East, members of our construction management, consultancy and the full group are highly regarded for combining legal expertise, suite of FIDIC and other commonly used standard form sector experience and commercial thinking. The team contracts. advises owners, managers, franchisees, franchisors,

www.dlapiper.com | 03 operators, investors, developers and lenders with respect weaknesses, minimise uncertainty and create pragmatic, to hotels and other hospitality and leisure businesses. workable solutions. Where there is no negotiated solution, Our global industry focus and experience enables us to we use the most cost-effective and appropriate dispute provide a first class service to our clients in connection with resolution mechanisms to achieve successful outcomes. their local and international investments and operations. RECENT EXPERIENCE AND MAJOR PROJECTS LEASING Mixed-use schemes If you are a landlord or a tenant, we can advise you on the ■■ Titling and stratification of the Tiara Resort and drafting and negotiation of lease agreements for different condominium development on The Palm Jumeirah, kinds of properties, such as offices, hotels, leisure facilities, (320 room, 5-star hotel, 620 condominiums, retail and industrial premises. Our expertise includes sale luxury spa and health club, food and beverage outlets, and leaseback transactions. and nursery and related facilities). Including working closely with the client and its retained strata consultants REAL ESTATE FINANCING and surveyors, to prepare all community ownership documents comprising building management statements, The team can help you create guarantee structures that community declarations and easement arrangements minimise the cost of financing projects – an essential with adjoining owners. outcome in a highly competitive market. We also advise both lenders and investors on the financing of construction ■■ Assisting a number of real estate developers with or purchase of all kinds of real estate assets. their mixed-use schemes (retail, leisure and offices), including advising on how best to structure such schemes and accounting for issues relating to REAL ESTATE DISPUTES competing interests of tenants and other occupiers. Disputes can arise in even the most carefully managed ■■ Advising Tourism Development and Investment Company portfolios and projects. The team delivers incisive advice on a phased development and disposal agreement for across a broad spectrum of topics. Our lawyers will two significant mixed-use developments in Abu Dhabi. work with you from the start to assess the strengths and

04 | Middle East Real Estate Practice ■■ Advising in its capacity as the developer services agreements and other ancillary agreements of its signature project of the same name. The project for new developments in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the wider involves the construction of an integrated city for Middle East and many countries in the world. 20,000 people, including offices, luxury apartments, ■■ Assisting Al Futtaim Group Real Estate with a number of five star hotels and a luxury shopping mall. its hotel projects at Festival City, Dubai. ■■ Advising an Abu Dhabi-based developer on all aspects ■■ Advising Emaar Hospitality Group on the hotel of its exclusive luxury island mixed-use development management arrangements for three “The Address” project, including the preparation of standard form hotels and resorts in Dubai. Drafted a template hotel sale and purchase agreements. management agreement to be utilised for the global ■■ Advising Nakheel on the Trump International Hotel rollout of “The Address” brand worldwide. and Tower, a mixed-use development on The Palm ■■ Represented Nakheel in respect of the roll out of a Jumeirah, Dubai. franchised budget hotel chain, ‘easyHotels’, in the ■■ Advising Sukoon on a mixed-use development Middle East. in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ■■ Advising a Saudi Arabia-based developer in respect of hotel management agreements for various international Hotels & leisure hotels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

■■ Advising Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company on the hotel management agreements and ancillary General Real estate & Construction documentation for the new aloft and Element hotels ■■ Advising a GCC Government entity on real estate forming part of the Capital Centre/Abu Dhabi National laws and regulations, including the preparation of a Exhibitions Centre development in Abu Dhabi. comparative study of laws in the GCC. ■■ Acting for a major Dubai-based international luxury ■■ Advising an Abu Dhabi Government authority on all hotel operator in drafting and negotiating letters of aspects of delivering its leading edge, media focused understanding, hotel management agreements, technical development, including the drafting and negotiation of property management and leasing arrangements, the preparation of standard form leases, occupational licences, contracts for design, construction and consultancies for use throughout the project.

■■ Advising Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) on the creation of its master community at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre and the on-going management of the development.

■■ Advising Aldar on a number of property, construction and joint venture arrangements, including advising on the hotels, retail and a theme park project on Yas Island; and providing on-going project advice on the Flagship City Centre Central Market redevelopment.

■■ Advising Sunland Group, on their joint venture projects with local firm ENSHAA, to develop the Palazzo Versace Hotel and Condominiums and “D1” (sister tower to “”), a 79-story residential tower in , Dubai.

■■ Acting for the owner and developer of one of six government-mandated new Economic Cities in Saudi Arabia.

www.dlapiper.com | 05 Middle East REAL ESTATE KEY CONTACTS

DUBAI ABU DHABI

Tom O’Grady Duncan Pickering Real Estate Practice Group Head Partner T +971 4 438 6322 T +971 2 494 1531 [email protected] [email protected]

RIYADH KUWAIT CITY AND MANAMA

Eyad Reda Abdul Aziz Al-Yaqout Office Managing Partner Regional Managing Partner T +966 1 211 8156 T +965 6557 0805 [email protected] [email protected]

MUSCAT

Bruce Mullins Office Managing Partner T +968 2 464 7708 [email protected]

Real Estate & Construction – Ranked tier 1 in the UAE from 2008 to 2010 – Legal 500

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