Capital Markets Lawyer in Dubai
Clear Guidance on Capital Markets and Securities Matters
Work with a capital markets lawyer in Dubai for IPOs, securities offerings, debt issuances, and regulatory compliance. Our Dubai capital markets attorney provides strategic guidance for accessing UAE and international capital markets through Dubai Financial Market, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, and Nasdaq Dubai under UAE Securities and Commodities Authority regulations.
Planning a capital raise? Contact our capital markets team today
What We Do
- Initial public offerings and secondary equity offerings on UAE exchanges
- Sukuk and bond issuances for Islamic and conventional debt capital markets
- Private placements and exempt offerings to qualified investors
- Securities compliance, prospectus drafting, and regulatory approvals through SCA
- Exchange listing applications for DFM, ADX, and Nasdaq Dubai
- Corporate governance implementation and ongoing compliance for public companies
- Cross-border securities offerings and international market access strategies
How We Help
- Assess capital raising options and recommend optimal structures under UAE securities law
- Prepare comprehensive offering documents meeting SCA and exchange requirements
- Navigate regulatory approval processes with Central Bank, SCA, and DFSA
- Coordinate transaction execution with underwriters, auditors, and financial advisors
Equity Capital Markets Services
Initial Public Offerings
Our experienced capital markets attorney Dubai structures IPO transactions under SCA regulations:
- IPO structuring complying with SCA Board Decision No. 3/R.M of 2021 and exchange requirements
- Prospectus drafting and offering circular preparation for regulatory review and approval
- Book-building process management and retail investor subscription coordination
- Exchange listing coordination for Dubai Financial Market, Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, or Nasdaq Dubai
- Pre-IPO corporate restructuring and governance framework implementation
Private Equity and Secondary Offerings
- Private placement structuring for qualified institutional and high-net-worth investors
- Secondary offering coordination for existing shareholders and company growth capital
- Private placement memorandum preparation and subscription agreement drafting
- Regulatory exemption navigation avoiding full prospectus disclosure requirements
- Share transfer mechanics through UAE securities depositories and clearing systems
Debt Capital Markets
Sukuk and Islamic Finance Securities
Our capital markets lawyer in Dubai structures Islamic securities under UAE frameworks:
- Conventional bond and Islamic sukuk structuring complying with AAOIFI standards
- Trust deed, agency agreement, and purchase agreement drafting for debt issuances
- Credit rating coordination and trustee appointment procedures
- Dubai Financial Market and Nasdaq Dubai debt securities listing processes
- Regulatory compliance with SCA sukuk regulations and Central Bank requirements
Structured Finance and Medium-Term Programs
- Asset-backed securities and covered bond program development
- Medium-term note program establishment for repeated debt issuances
- Convertible bond and hybrid instrument structuring for growth companies
- Securitization transaction coordination under SCA regulatory frameworks
Securities Regulatory Compliance
SCA Regulatory Requirements
Navigating UAE securities regulations requires specialized expertise. Our Dubai capital markets attorney ensures:
- Compliance with SCA Rulebook provisions and exchange listing standards
- Periodic reporting, material disclosure, and insider trading notification filings
- Market abuse prevention systems and price manipulation control procedures
- Takeover offer compliance under SCA Merger and Acquisition Regulations
Exchange-Specific Requirements
Each UAE exchange maintains distinct regulatory frameworks:
Dubai Financial Market (DFM):
- Minimum 55% free float requirements for standard listings
- SCA regulatory oversight and UAE securities law compliance
- Arabic and English disclosure requirements
Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX):
- Quarterly reporting within 45 days of period end
- Government and institutional investor focus
- Energy and financial sector specialization
Nasdaq Dubai:
- International listing standards under DFSA regulation
- Foreign issuer accommodation and dual listing capabilities
- Islamic securities and sukuk specialization
Corporate Governance and Compliance
Public Company Governance Implementation
Our capital markets lawyer in Dubai establishes governance frameworks including:
- Board structure and independent director appointment under SCA governance codes
- Audit, nomination, and remuneration committee establishment and operation
- Related party transaction procedures and conflict of interest management
- Price-sensitive information disclosure systems and investor communication protocols
Ongoing Compliance Management
- Continuous disclosure obligation management for material events and financial results
- Shareholder meeting coordination and proxy solicitation procedures
- Dividend policy implementation and distribution mechanics
- Investor relations program development and analyst communication coordination
DIFC and ADGM Capital Markets
Dubai International Financial Centre Securities Framework
Operating within DIFC requires specialized knowledge of DFSA regulations. Our Dubai capital markets attorney provides:
- DFSA authorized firm structuring for regulated securities activities
- Nasdaq Dubai listing coordination under DFSA Listing Rules and international standards
- Private placement and exempt offer structuring within DIFC regulatory perimeter
- Crowdfunding platform development under DFSA innovative finance frameworks
Abu Dhabi Global Market Securities Services
- FSRA regulated offering structuring and regulatory approval coordination
- Private placement regime navigation for sophisticated investor access
- Digital securities and tokenization framework utilization for innovative offerings
- International market connection through ADGM passporting arrangements
Cross-Border Securities Offerings
International Market Access
Our capital markets lawyer in Dubai coordinates international securities offerings:
- Dual listing strategies connecting UAE and international exchanges
- Cross-border offering structuring under multiple regulatory jurisdictions
- International investor roadshow coordination and marketing material preparation
- Foreign exchange compliance and currency hedging arrangement coordination
Depositary Receipt Programs
- Global Depositary Receipt (GDR) and American Depositary Receipt (ADR) structuring
- International custody and settlement arrangement coordination
- Foreign investor access facilitation through depositary programs
- Cross-border compliance and dual reporting requirement management
Specialized Capital Markets Services
Government and Sovereign Issuances
- Sovereign bond and sukuk issuance coordination for government entities
- Quasi-sovereign and government-related entity securities offering structuring
- Public-private partnership financing and infrastructure bond development
- Regulatory compliance for government privatization and divestiture programs
Financial Institution Capital Raising
- Bank regulatory capital issuance under Central Bank requirements
- Insurance company capital raising and solvency compliance coordination
- Fintech and digital banking securities offering structuring
- Islamic banking capital instrument development and regulatory approval
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
- REIT structuring under SCA regulations and tax optimization frameworks
- Property portfolio securitization and investor access facilitation
- REIT management company establishment and regulatory compliance
- Exchange listing and ongoing compliance for real estate securities
Transaction Execution and Coordination
Pre-Launch Preparation
Successful capital markets transactions require comprehensive preparation. Our capital markets attorney Dubai manages:
- Corporate restructuring and legal entity optimization for listing readiness
- Financial statement preparation under IFRS and regulatory accounting standards
- Due diligence coordination and legal verification procedures
- Underwriter, auditor, and advisor selection and appointment coordination
Market Execution and Settlement
- Regulatory submission preparation and regulator comment response coordination
- Investor roadshow material preparation and presentation coordination
- Pricing decision support and allocation policy implementation
- Settlement procedure coordination and share delivery through depositories
Startup and Growth Company Support
Emerging Company Capital Markets Strategy
Our Dubai capital markets lawyer provides targeted guidance for growing companies:
- Pre-IPO planning and corporate governance preparation for eventual public offering
- Private funding round coordination with securities law compliance
- Employee stock option plan implementation under securities regulations
- Venture capital and private equity investment structuring and documentation
Innovation Economy Securities
- Technology company IPO preparation and regulatory compliance coordination
- Digital asset and cryptocurrency regulatory framework navigation
- Fintech securities offering structuring under sandbox and innovation programs
- Intellectual property monetization through securities market access
Who We Support
- UAE companies planning initial public offerings and growth capital raising
- International corporations seeking UAE market listing and investor access
- Government entities and sovereign wealth funds issuing debt securities
- Financial institutions raising regulatory capital through equity and debt offerings
- Private equity sponsors executing portfolio company exits through public markets
- Family businesses transitioning from private to public company structures
How It Works
Step 1: Capital Markets Assessment
Analyze business model, evaluate capital raising options, assess regulatory requirements and market readiness
Step 2: Transaction Structuring
Working with our capital markets lawyer in Dubai, develop optimal offering structure, regulatory strategy, and execution timeline
Step 3: Documentation and Regulatory Approval
Draft offering documents, coordinate due diligence, prepare regulatory filings, and obtain necessary approvals
Step 4: Market Execution and Completion
Launch offering, manage investor subscription process, complete exchange listing, and establish ongoing compliance
Frequently Asked Questions
Requirements vary by exchange but generally include 2-3 years of operations, minimum capital thresholds, audited financial statements under IFRS, and corporate governance compliance meeting SCA standards.
UAE IPOs typically require 4-6 months from advisor appointment to listing completion, depending on company readiness, regulatory responsiveness, and market conditions.
Dubai Financial Market operates under SCA regulations for domestic listings with Arabic disclosure requirements, while Nasdaq Dubai offers international standards under DFSA regulation for global issuers.
Yes, foreign companies can access UAE markets through depositary receipts on DFM/ADX or direct listings on Nasdaq Dubai, subject to regulatory requirements and approval processes.
UAE markets support various Islamic securities including ijara, mudaraba, wakala, murabaha, and hybrid structures complying with AAOIFI standards and SCA regulatory requirements.
IPO costs depend on offering size but typically include underwriting fees (2-5% of proceeds), legal fees, audit costs, marketing expenses, and regulatory filing fees.
Founding shareholders typically face 6-12 month post-listing restrictions, while management and pre-IPO investors may have different lock-up periods based on SCA requirements and market practice.
Yes, UAE IPOs typically allocate specific tranches for retail investors, often with preferential allocation procedures for UAE nationals and residents.
Listed companies must file quarterly financial statements, annual reports, immediate material event disclosures, and insider trading notifications under SCA continuous disclosure requirements.
Securities settle through Dubai Clear for DFM transactions, ADX Clear for Abu Dhabi Exchange, and international systems like Euroclear/Clearstream for Nasdaq Dubai instruments.
