Special Situations & Restructuring (UAE)
Special-situations financing and restructuring advisory under the UAE’s reformed insolvency regime.
Image · Special Situations & Restructuring (UAE)The UAE’s restructuring landscape has matured with the Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2023 (the new Bankruptcy Law, in force 2024), which modernised preventive settlement, restructuring and bankruptcy, alongside the standalone DIFC and ADGM insolvency regimes. Matchpoint advises UAE and GCC companies, sponsors and lenders on special-situations capital, rescue financing and consensual restructurings, working with local counsel across onshore and free-zone frameworks.
As part of our Debt practice, Matchpoint Partners has originated and led $2+ billion of transactions across four continents, and every debt mandate is led by a partner, from first call to close.
The central mandate decision. Select a consensual financing, restructuring or transaction route using the facts of the relevant UAE entity, security and jurisdiction. The legal route requires advice specific to the onshore or financial-free-zone framework involved.
What capital providers or counterparties will test
Liquidity, banking exposure, guarantees, security registration, cheque or payment obligations, creditor concentration, asset values, cross-border entities and the credibility of management's recovery plan.
How the mandate is structured
Possible routes include bridge or rescue money, bilateral or multi-lender restructuring, asset-backed refinancing, shareholder support and a controlled asset or business sale.
Execution priorities
Preserve cash, reconcile every creditor and security position, obtain UAE legal advice and give stakeholders one integrated turnaround and financing plan.
Prepare before approaching the market
- Thirteen-week cash-flow forecast
- Bank, creditor, guarantee and security schedule
- Entity and jurisdiction map
- Turnaround plan and independent legal advice
Our role on special situations & restructuring (uae) mandates
- Consensual restructuring and refinancing in the UAE / GCC
- Preventive settlement and restructuring under the 2023 law
- Onshore, DIFC and ADGM insolvency frameworks
- Special-situations and rescue capital from private credit
Research relevant to this area
Original analysis and decision frameworks from the Matchpoint team.
Special Situations & Restructuring (UAE) — frequently asked questions
Federal Decree-Law No. 51 of 2023, in force in 2024, which replaced the 2016 law and modernised the UAE’s insolvency regime — providing for preventive settlement, restructuring and bankruptcy, and a dedicated Bankruptcy Court. DIFC and ADGM operate their own separate insolvency regimes.
Yes — most restructurings in the UAE are consensual, negotiated directly with lenders, with the formal regime available as a backstop. Matchpoint runs the negotiation and arranges any new-money financing required.
International and regional private-credit and special-situations funds, which price the complexity and enforcement profile that banks avoid. We connect the situation to the right capital.
Matchpoint originates senior, mezzanine, hybrid and structured debt from regional banks, international lenders and private credit funds, structured around your transaction. Tickets range from USD 5m to USD 500m+.
Private credit is non-bank lending from specialist funds, typically senior or unitranche, offering speed and flexibility. We maintain relationships with private credit funds active in the GCC and India.
Yes. We structure Sukuk and Shariah-compliant private credit, including blended structures pairing a Sukuk tranche with conventional debt.
Engagements ordinarily combine a retainer with a success fee. Terms are agreed in writing before work begins and calibrated to the mandate’s size, scope and complexity.
Most mandates reach a first term sheet within 30 days, depending on diligence readiness and structure; closing follows once terms are agreed.
A short, confidential scoping call and NDA; we structure the requirement and prepare materials, then run a competitive process across our 5,000+ investor and lender relationships, and negotiate to close — with a partner leading at every step.
Matchpoint Partners is based in the UAE and runs cross-border mandates across the UAE, KSA, India and the UK, with active deal activity in wider Europe, Singapore and the United States.
Matchpoint undertakes corporate finance, financing, M&A and fund-placement mandates from USD 5m upwards, subject to mandate fit, diligence, applicable regulation, capacity and a written engagement. The partner team has originated and led $2+ billion of transactions.
Use the enquiry form, email contact@matchpoint-partners.com, or call/WhatsApp +971 52 345 1119. Every mandate is led by a partner from the very first conversation.
Yes. Confidential information is handled under the engagement terms and any applicable non-disclosure agreement.
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