New insolvency law enacted by Dubai’s DIFC, lawyers say move will boost confidence

Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has enacted a new insolvency law, it was announced on Tuesday.

The law, signed off by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aims to “balance the needs of all stakeholders in the context of distressed and bankruptcy related situations in DIFC”, a statement said.

It will facilitate a more efficient and effective bankruptcy restructuring regime, it added.

The new regulation, which will come into effect on June 13, 2019, introduces a new debtor in possession bankruptcy regime.

The law also provides for a new administration process where there is evidence of mismanagement or misconduct.

It also enforces the rules governing winding up procedures and incorporates the UNCITRAL Model Law on cross border insolvency proceedings with certain modifications for application in the Centre.

“The new law was subject to substantial research and global benchmarking, as well as thorough public consultation”, the statement said.

Essa Kazim, governor of DIFC, said: “Ensuring that businesses and investors can operate across the region with confidence is crucial to our role in connecting the economies of east and west.

“We are committed to continuously enhancing our legislative infrastructure in order to give leading global institutions the certainty and access they need to capture the opportunities within the MEASA region, through Dubai.”

Sachin Kerur, partner and head of Middle East region at Reed Smith agreed that the law will provide more confidence to global institutions in the viability and strength of opportunities in Dubai.

“This development was an inevitability if the DIFC is to continue in its aim of remaining a premier business centre but also following recent financial collapses here,” he said.

The introduction of the law comes after the region’s biggest private equity firm Abraaj collapsed last year, following allegations of fraud.

“The new law will increase the prospects of rescuing businesses and preserve economic value while improving the DIFC’s standing as an international financial centre by adopting the internationally recognised model laws that facilitate cross-border insolvencies in complex multi-jurisdictional cases,” opined Peter Somekh, global co-chair of Restructuring and regional managing partner – Middle East at law firm DLA Piper.

“As with any new law, success will be assessed by its frequency of use and effectiveness. The DIFC is an established centre with an effective court system which, when supported by professionals skilled in business rescue, should ensure that the law achieves its intended purpose, being to promote a modern and efficient bankruptcy restructuring regime,” he added.

DIFC had 2,137 active registered companies as of 2018, including 625 financial firms. The size of its workforce stood at 23,604 professionals as at year-end 2018.

Read: Dubai’s DIFC sees over 1, 220 new jobs, 430 new company registrations in 2018

Meanwhile the DIFC Courts saw the value of claims increase by “422 per cent” in 2018 led by growth in the number of cases.

The total volume of cases increased by 29 per cent year-on-year to 670 across all divisions.

Read: Dubai’s DIFC Courts sees value of claims rise sharply in 2018